AUGUSTA -- Opponents of same-sex marriage gathered at the Augusta Civic Center Sunday night for a rally to discuss campaign strategy and build momentum heading toward the Nov. 3 election, organizers said.

The rally, which was closed to the media, was described by organizers as an opportunity for gay-marriage opponents to network with each other and prepare for the next phase of the campaign.

The event, which was scheduled to feature remarks by Maine Roman Catholic Bishop Richard Malone, a pastor from California and the president of the Family Research Council of Washington D.C., was expected to draw 3,000 people, said the Rev. Bob Emrich, who made tickets available to gay-marriage opponents only.

In a press conference held prior the start of the rally, Emrich said they closed the event to the media because it was expected to last more than two hours and because they were going to discuss campaign strategy with supporters.

"The rally is for supporters," he said. "We won't be trying to convince anybody tonight to vote Yes on Question 1. People are here because they've already decided and they are going to be helping on the campaign."

Question 1 on the November ballot is a people's veto of Maine's gay-marriage law. Gov. John Baldacci signed the law in May, setting the stage for a signature-gathering campaign to repeal it by public vote.

Emrich said the rally would give supporters a "chance to celebrate" the successful signature-gathering process and that he expected to take questions from supporters and direct them on how to proceed as the campaign continues.

Outside the press conference, religious leaders and others who support same-sex marriage offered their views on why they feel voters should uphold the law. Pamella Starbird Beliveau, of Lewiston, said she's a practicing Catholic who supports gay marriage.

"It saddens me to be in conflict with my bishop," she said. "We're dealing with flesh-and-blood, heart-and-soul human beings who are in love and aspire to marriage. This is an issue of discrimination for me, and an issue of social justice."

Over the weekend, gay-marriage supporters challenged opponents to open up their rally and announced that the media was welcome to attend a "community conversation" Sunday night at a church in Augusta.

Mark Sullivan, spokesman for the No on 1 campaign, said the issue is so important that major events should be open to the public.

"This is something that's going to affect Maine's future, and we think Maine people are the best people to make those decisions," he said.

And while Sullivan said he believes Maine people want to keep the law in place, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said a recent national poll shows Americans are backing away from their support of same-sex marriage. He said voters are reacting to actions by Northeastern states to allow gay marriage.

Same-sex marriage is currently legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont. A law allowing gay marriage in New Hampshire is set to take effect in January.

"Because of the pushing of this agenda in the Northeast, the American people are pushing back," he said. "It dropped from 42 percent support for same-sex marriage down to 33 percent."

Emrich said he feels most Mainers will vote to repeal Maine's gay-marriage law.

"Most people have made up their mind to vote yes (to repeal the law)," he said. "It's not a done deal, but it's close."

Susan Cover -- 620-7015

scover@centralmaine.com