Badpuppy Gay Today

Monday, 12 May 1997

The state of Maine, poised within two days with New Hampshire, joins that state as they become the 10th and 11th states to pass lesbian and gay equal rights laws, extending protections based on sexual orientation. They follow Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont, seeming to make of historic New England a virtual legal bulwark of American fair play and social reasonableness.

"I think the vote was historic," said Karen Geraghty of the Maine Lesbian and Gay Political Alliance."Personal testimony that we heard from the floor convinced the Legislature that discrimination does occur and it shouldn't occur."

The comprehensive bill will extend basic civil rights protections to Maine's gay and lesbian citizens. A House vote 84-61 took place on the evening of May 8 extending protections to gay people in employment, housing, public accommodations and credit. A Senate vote, the day before, passed the measure 28-5. Maine's Governor, independent Angus King, has promised to sign the bill after a procedural vote.

The Human Rights Campaign's executive director, Elizabeth Birch said, "These votes demonstrate a new momentum in the quest for gay civil rights. Maine and New Hampshire stand ready to join the nine states that already treat their gay and lesbian citizens equally."

It is important, she emphasized, that we do not forget--in the midst of these heady victories-- that in 39 other states a gay citizen has no recourse if he or she is discriminated against because of sexual orientation, and that currently, until ENDA (the Employment Non-Discrimination Act) is reintroduced and passed in Congress, there is no federal law protecting Americans from such discrimination.

The states outside New England that ban discrimination are Minnesota (1993); California (1992); Wisconsin (1982); Hawaii (1991); and New Jersey (1992).

"The people of Maine know what is right," said Kerry Lobel, Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), "they have always demonstrated a strong, independent way of thinking." She added also that "Momentum is on the rise for equal treatment for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people in this nation."

The House debate was described as "an unusually emotional and moving debate in which supporters far outnumbered opponents." Arguments were mounted over a three-hour period.

Concerned Maine Families, a currently unhappy arm of fundamentalist and right wing religious zealots, will seek a referendum to overturn the law," said Carolyn Cosby, a concerned member who works regularly to oppose equal rights for people who are same-sex affectionate.