Marriage Equality Opponents Gathering Signatures in Maryland

Marriage equality opponents are officially gathering signatures to overturn the bill signed earlier this month by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley that would legalize same-sex unions, the Associated Press reports.

The Maryland Marriage Alliance needs to collect about 56,000 valid signatures by June 30 -- slightly less than 1% of the population -- for a referendum on the November ballot. The group is working with an online organization, mdpetitions.com, to mail petition forms to voters who request them.

O'Malley signed the bill into law on March 1 after it passed the state's Senate in a 25-22 vote, making Maryland the eighth state plus the District of Columbia with marriage equality. The law wouldn't take effect until January, however.

A January poll by The Washington Post showed that 50% of Marylanders supported same-sex marriage, with 44% opposed.

From the group's website:

Against the will of the overwhelming majority of the people of Maryland, the Legislature has voted to legalize same sex marriage. But the people of Maryland will have the final say on marriage as we have the right to referendum. Maryland Marriage Alliance has already filed to be the Official Referendum Proponents to allow the people to vote and restore marriage in Maryland.