Gay Rights Passes in Maine

(Augusta, Maine) Last night, state lawmakers passed an amendment to the Maine Human Rights Act making it illegal to discriminate based upon sexual orientation or identity. With little debate, the measure passed both houses of the legislature by wide margins. However, some legislators said that "Mainers don't want this bill and believe the Legislature is arrogant by passing it without sending it to voters."

The Christian Civic League of Maine vowed continued opposition. Interestingly, it appears that the citizens of Maine have voted on repeated occasions against granting special rights to homosexuals, so the action by the legislature is considered directly contrary to public opinion. There's a belief that the gay population already has the same rights as other citizens and the passage of the amendment was to appease a small, albeit politically influential, minority. Some also sense that the amendment is a slippery-slope step towards legalization of homosexual marriage even though words were included saying it isn't so. (Ref: Kennebec Journal here and here)

Betsy Smith of Equality Maine, a homosexual advocacy group, said, "We're thrilled." Some have already applauded the passage of an amendment as opposed to a voter referendum on the belief that "righteous discriminators" use "every argument and tool at their disposal, especially quoting the Bible" to defeat proposed gay rights legislation. Oddly, this reasoning seems to purport supporting democracy, but only when voters are not participating.

Gov. Baldacci is expected to have the measure on his desk later today.