AUGUSTA – Opponents of the gay rights question on last week’s ballot said Monday that Maine voters sent a loud and clear message of where they stand on the long-debated issue.

Even though unofficial figures show only a 2 percentage point margin of victory, it was the second referendum since 1998 in which voters have affirmed their stand, said Paul Volle, executive director of the Christian Coalition of Maine.

Volle also said his only surprise in the latest vote count was that his side’s margin of victory was not larger, even though polls leading up to Election Day showed comfortable margins for the other side.

“They may have been very surprised but I was not,” Volle said at a State House news conference. “Probably the most unreliable poll you can take in the state of Maine is on the gay rights issue.”

A big factor in the outcome was a vote by Roman Catholics against the proposed amendment to the Human Rights Act, said Paul Madore, director of the Maine Grassroots Coalition, which also battled the referendum.

Many Catholics, Madore said, were offended when the Diocese of Portland agreed to support the proposal in exchange for exemptions for religious institutions in the law.

“No more backroom deals with the Diocese of Portland,” said Madore.

Polls before the election showed an erosion of support for the Yes on 6 side, whose campaign leaders were stunned by the loss but conceded.

Some advocates, noting the close vote, said later that the concession was being retracted until the numbers could be scrutinized, but the Yes on 6 campaign on Friday said the concession still stood.

On Monday, as rumors of a possible recount swirled around the State House, Yes on 6 spokesman Tony Giampetruzzi said his campaign would make no further statements until the referendum tallies become official.

The Yes on 6 campaign has requested information about a possible recount but has taken no steps to begin the process, said Julie Flynn, director of the state division of corporations and elections.

Official state figures will not be processed until later this month. But unofficial tallies from 99 percent of Maine’s precincts showed 317,660 votes against the measure to 310,819 votes in favor, a difference of 6,841.

Volle said the margin was too wide to turn the referendum around.

“We know we won. They know we won. Everybody in Maine knows we won,” Volle said.

Volle said his side does not expect advocates to abandon their push for a law barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, credit, public accommodations and employment. Opponents have labeled the proposal a special rights proposition.

The Christian Coalition will publicize votes of legislators on the issue and assist in defeating candidates who “chose to ignore the people’s will” in the two gay rights referendums, said Volle.