Source: Bangor News, WMTV
AUGUSTA, Maine - One of the state's most vocal opponents of gay rights has initiated a referendum aimed at banning same-sex marriages or civil unions and prohibiting same-sex couples from adopting children.

The referendum also would eliminate sexual orientation as a protected class under the Maine Human Rights Act and would take away funding that supports civil rights teams affiliated with the state Attorney General’s Office.

Michael Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, said that if the Secretary of State’s Office approves his petition, he’ll begin recruiting organizers to gather signatures. Putting a referendum on the state ballot requires about 55,000 signatures, or 10 percent of the turnout for the last gubernatorial election.

"The referendum proposed is an extremely broad attack on Maine's lesbian and gay citizens," said Betsy Smith, executive director with the political advocacy group Equality Maine. "Really, all gay and lesbian Mainers want is to be able to live our lives fairly -- in our jobs and our housing -- and send our kids safely to school. And we think most fair-minded Mainers support our ability to live that way."

According to Heath, "Everybody knows we can't create legal rights based upon doing something which is wrong, and so that's why we need to take sexual orientation -- which is very vaguely defined -- out of the Maine Human Rights Act. We need to eliminate special rights," he said.

"We’re mindful, politically speaking, of the fact that there are remaining questions with regard to gay rights," Heath said Wednesday by telephone to Bangor News, adding that "the only real question remaining is whether same-sex marriage will eventually be allowed under the law."

"We’ve decided to put our own views out there on this and start the debate," he said.

A referendum in 2005 also led by Heath sought to overturn a Maine law protecting gays. If that discussion is any indicator, the debate is likely to be heated.

Shenna Bellows, executive director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union, sharply denounced the proposed referendum.

"Mainers have spoken loud and clear that Maine won’t discriminate," she said. "We will vigorously oppose this referendum that is founded in hate and fear-mongering."

"The question that he has submitted to the secretary of state is so broad that it’s ridiculous," Smith told Bangor News Wednesday by telephone. "I don’t even know if it’s legal to put a question like that on the ballot. He basically wants to repeal any rights gays have gotten."

The secretary of state's office is expected to issue a decision on the proposed rederendum by April 18.

The question as it was submitted reads: "Do you want to protect traditional marriage and eliminate special rights laws in Maine?"

A description of the referendum claims that it will clarify Maine’s marriage law, limiting the institution to one man and one woman. It also would forbid the establishment of civil unions. The referendum further seeks to remove sexual orientation from the Maine Human Rights Act and to eliminate any state funding for civil rights advocacy through the Attorney General’s Office.

In the last several years, Maine residents have been difficult to read on the issue of gay rights, Bangor News reports. In 1995, voters soundly rejected an attempt to repeal local gay rights initiatives and prohibit the future adoption of others. In 1998 and 2000, voters rejected gay rights initiatives.

In 2005, however, an effort to overturn a Maine law that prohibited discrimination against homosexuals in the areas of housing, education and employment was rejected.

The referendum known as Question 1, which also was spearheaded by Heath and the Christian Civic League, generated widespread debate on both sides.

With strong advocacy from Maine Won’t Discriminate, a gay-rights group that mobilized to oppose the question, 55 percent of voters rejected overturning the law. Still, seven of the state’s 16 counties supported the referendum, which suggests a divide on the issue remains.

Heath indicated shortly after the 2005 election that, despite the loss, he planned to go after gay marriage.

Full article: League fighting gay rights in Maine | Bangor News
Anti-Gay Rights Proposal Advanced | WMTV