The bill allows gays and lesbians freedom from fear of losing employment or housing, being discriminated against at public accommodations and in matters relating to credit.

Astute gay and fundamentalist strategists believe that the Maine fundamentalists' latest move is poor strategy. Attempts to eliminate basic protections taken for granted by other citizens, fail to reflect, many believe, the compassionate message generally associated with Jesus' teachings.

Christian Civic League director Michael Heath says he has found 1,000 volunteers to go door to door for signatures. If each volunteer succeeds in obtaining 52 certified signatures, there is no question but that the bill will be eligible for a statewide vote.

In the wake of the Southern Baptists' boycott of the Disney Company, popular sentiment is, according to public polls, critical of such behaviors as the boycott. Such polls have had no effect on those Maine zealots "called" to do battle with the "gays" however.

CCL's Heath calls same-sex love "a morally inappropriate version of human sexuality that is properly stigmatized by civilized cultures."

In response, Maine's Speaker of the House, Elizabeth Mitchell (Dem.) referred to the "Christian" plans as "misguided and wrong."

Mitchell continued: "I am firmly convinced that all civil rights should protect all people, regardless of sexual orientation, Our laws should not permit someone to be fired from a job or refused a seat in a restaurant, or denied a bank loan merely because of their sexual orientation."

The legislature passed the protection bill last May and the Governor's ostentatious signing of it into law was indicative of his sense that Maine's citizenry stands for fairness.

"Even if the fundamentalists succeed in rescinding Maine's protections," said Martin Kroger, a gay activist, "it'll show clearly the need for the passage of ENDA (the Employment Non-Discrimination Act) in the U.S. Congress. If that bill passes, then all the signatures the Christian Coalition and the Christian Civic League collect to defeat us in Maine will have been collected in vain because the U.S. law will extend to all states."