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THE 1997 EQUAL RIGHTS BILL

It's one page long. Click to view the full text of the Gay Rights bill as enacted by the Maine Legislature.
The Text of the Veto Referendum Question:
"Do you want to reject the law passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation with respect to jobs, housing, public accommodations and credit?"

MIDWINTER SHOWDOWN SET ON MAINE GAY RIGHTS LAW

Associated Press - Monday February 9, 1998
It took 20 years of trying to win passage of a law last spring adding sexual orientation to the list of protected categories in Maine's Human Rights Act. On Tuesday, voters will decide whether to uphold a "people's veto" of the new law.

CRIES OF FOUL SULLY GAY-RIGHTS REFERENDUM

Portland Press Herald - Monday, February 9, 1998
Leaders of Maine Won't Discriminate claim that their opponents have misled voters with unsubstantiated claims about what the law would do.
Groups opposing the law say they are portraying the issue accurately, but have received unfair treatment from Maine's media.

PORTLAND'S GAY RIGHTS ORDINANCE BENIGN? NOT TO ONE WOMAN

M.D. Harmon Column
Portland Press Herald - Monday, February 9, 1998
M.D. Harmon proves he can count to one.

MAINE IMAGE OF TOLERANCE RESTS ON VOTE

Bill Nemitz
Portland Press Herald - Sunday, February 8, 1998
"It is not your support Michael Heath and his followers are counting on as they try to chase homosexuals out from under the state's equal-rights umbrella -- It's your apathy."

STORM, CLINTON SCANDAL MAY SWAY GAY RIGHTS VOTE

Bangor Daily News Column - Saturday, February 7, 1998
By most standards of measurement, defeat of the Feb. 10 referendum initiated by the Christian Civic League of Maine and its allies to repeal Maine's new gay rights statute should be a slam dunk.

GAY RIGHTS QUESTION EVOKES MANY MESSAGES

Bangor Daily News - Saturday, February 7, 1998
Many of the people who are planning to vote yes said that the issue has been oversimplified; those who will vote no are more likely to say the real issue has been lost in all the other messages.

LOW TURNOUT LIKELY FOR GAY RIGHTS VOTE

Bangor Daily News - Saturday, February 7, 1998
Dismal projections are shared by some election watchers who believe the single-issue, special election will fail to encourage double-digit balloting in many small towns. If so, it will be the kiss of death for this year's initiative

NATIONAL GROUPS WATCH RIGHTS VOTE

Portland Press Herald - Sunday, February 8, 1998
The vote Tuesday on Maine's new gay-rights law is, for the moment, the focus of the nationwide struggle over legal rights for gay people.

NO ON QUESTION !

Bangor Daily News Editorial - Saturday, February 7, 1998
The Bangor Daily News editorial stand on the February 10th referendum

VOTE 'NO' ON TUESDAY AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

Portland Press Herald Editorial - Sunday, February 8, 1998
The Portland Papers' editorial stand on the February 10th referendum

BOGUS HOTLINE MESSAGE YANKED

Kennebec Journal - Saturday, February 7, 1998
The executive director of the Maine Snowmobile Association had a rude awakening Friday when he learned the agency hotline was broadcasting a message urging callers to vote yes in Tuesday's referendum. A 6:30 a.m. phone call from a sportscaster for WCSH-TV, informed him that the hotline message had been altered.

SAME DEBATE, LARGER SCALE FOR GAY RIGHTS

Portland Press Herald - Saturday, February 7, 1998
In November 1992, a historic event took place: Portland voters approved the first gay rights law in Maine. But the vote was preceded by months of debate that threatened to divide the city.

AD ARSENAL EXPANDS FOR REFERENDUM FOES

Portland Press Herald - Saturday, February 7, 1998 Screen Shot of MWD Ad
Maine Won't Discriminate added two television commercials to its advertising campaign this week, giving the gay-rights group a total of three commercials airing statewide.

MARTIN LUTHER KING'S NIECE LEADS AUGUSTA RALLY OF GAY-RIGHTS FOES

Portland Press Herald - Friday, February 6, 1998
King tours the country speaking out against civil-rights legislation for gay men and lesbians. She was in Maine to speak about next Tuesday's referendum on the state's new law.

REFERENDUM BACKERS FACE FINES AFTER MISSING REPORTING DEADLINES

Portland Press Herald - Friday, February 6, 1998
Joe Cooper, a spokesman for Maine Won't Discriminate accused the repeal campaign of having more money than it reported. He claimed the Christian Coalition of Maine is a "front group for the national Christian Coalition."

GAY-RIGHTS REPEAL GROUP LAUNCHES ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

Portland Press Herald - Friday, February 6, 1998
The accuracy of the ads is open to debate. Even so, they are expected to give the anti-gay-rights side a boost.

HUNDREDS RALLY AGAINST GAY RIGHTS

Bangor Daily News - Friday, February 6, 1998 Alveda King
Gay people choose their sexual behavior, she said, so their struggle for rights has nothing to do with racial struggles. "God hates racism and God hates homosexuality," she said firmly, and people in the crowd called out "Amen."

NO EXCUSE

Editorial
Casco Bay Weekly - Thursday February 5, 1998
The religious right, which claims to believe in democracy, is convinced that the fewer folks who vote, the better off their "people's veto" of the gay rights law will fare.

GAY RIGHTS LAW BACKERS LEAD FUNDING

Bangor Daily News - Thursday, February 5, 1998 Mark Katz
A small shell-colored cottage at the edge of Togus Pond is for sale for about $70,000. The owners plan to donate up to $10,000 of that sale to Maine Won't Discriminate.

SUPPORTERS OF GAY RIGHTS LAW RAISE $420,000

Portland Press Herald - Thursday, February 5, 1998
It's unclear how much those who favor a ''yes'' vote in the referendum have raised. The two major political groups that don't want the so-called gay-rights law to take effect failed to file their spending reports by the Wednesday deadline.

HISTORY TEACHES THAT CIVIL RIGHTS ARE IN DANGER IN MAINE

Column: John W. Porter
Portland Press Herald - Wednesday, February 4, 1998
"This leaves me with a bad feeling about the outcome on Tuesday. It would be a huge setback for this state to vote in favor of discriminating against gay and lesbian people. It would, I'm convinced, be an outcome that goes against the wishes of a majority of the state's citizens "

GAY-RIGHTS BACKERS SEEK ABSENTEE VOTE

Portland Press Herald - Tuesday, February 3, 1998
Maine Won't Discriminate has sent applications for absentee ballots to more than 5,000 voters as part of its effort to uphold Maine's gay-rights law in a referendum Feb. 10. .

SPEAKOUT CENTERS ON LIVING IN FEAR

Bangor Daily News - Monday, February 2, 1998
Faced again with a ballot proposal, Jacobson is speaking out against discrimination and the fear of it through a program called "Maine SpeakOut." Started in 1995, the informal sessions are designed to give Maine people the opportunity to hear firsthand testimony about what its like to be discriminated against because of sexual preference.

MAINE MAN'S LONG WALK FOR GAY RIGHTS BRINGS OUT THE BEST

Bill Nemitz
Portland Press Herald - Sunday, February 1, 1998
Since he began his 390-mile hike on Jan. 15, Paul Fuller has seen time and again that Michael Heath and his band of Bible-thumping homophobes are nowhere near the majority they claim to be.

LEAFLETS, AD BLITZ TO MARK DAYS LEADING UP TO GAY-RIGHTS VOTE

Portland Press Herald - Sunday, February 1, 1998
One side is relying on a church pamphlet to communicate its message, while the other side is relying on television advertising. Therein lies the difference between the campaign aimed at overturning Maine's gay-rights law, and the campaign aimed at preserving the law passed by the Maine Legislature last spring.

UM STUDENT DENIES ANTI-GAY THREATS

Bangor Daily News - Saturday, January 31, 1998
A University of Maine student who was charged with violating the Maine Civil Rights Act for allegedly threatening another student with anti-gay comments last week has denied some of the allegations.

DIOCESE STRESSING INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS

Portland Press Herald - Saturday, January 31, 1998
Catholics from around Maine say the Diocese of Portland's neutral stand on the state's gay-rights law is just one factor, and hardly the biggest, influencing their view of next month's referendum on the law. Includes the statement from the Diocese

KING LENDS SUPPORT IN TV AD TO GAY-RIGHTS VOTE

Portland Press Herald - Saturday, January 31, 1998
'It's not my place to tell you how to vote,'' King says in the television advertisement. ''But it just strikes me as wrong that somebody should lose their job because they're gay. That's why on February 10th I'm going to vote no.''

GAY-RIGHTS ADVOCATES LAUNCH ADS FEATURING KING

Associated Press - Saturday January 31, 1998
The Maine Won't Discriminate campaign took to television Friday with ads featuring Gov. Angus King pledging a Feb. 10 vote against the proposed repeal of Maine's gay rights statute.

ANTI-GAY INCIDENT PROMPTS CIVIL SUIT AGAINST UM STUDENT

Bangor Daily News - Friday January 30, 1998
Last Thursday, a 22-year-old University of Maine student taped a "Maine Still Won't Discriminate" brochure onto his door to remind other people in Estabrooke Hall to vote on the gay rights referendum Feb. 10. In the middle of the night, he woke to find another student had entered his unlocked room demanding to know whether he was a "fag" and if he had oral sex with men.

DIOCESE CLARIFIES OFFICIAL POSITION ON GAY-RIGHTS VOTE

Portland Press Herald - Friday, January 30, 1998
Maine's Roman Catholic diocese said Thursday that its neutral stance on the state's gay-rights law does not diminish its strong opposition to discrimination against homosexuals.

SUPPORTERS OF GAY-RIGHTS LAW TO BEGIN RUNNING TV ADS

Portland Press Herald - Friday, January 30, 1998
A commercial featuring Gov. Angus King urging a ''no'' vote on the Feb. 10 referendum will start running tonight throughout the state. It will continue to be shown until Election Day.

STUDENT FACES CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT

Associated Press - Friday January 30, 1998
A civil rights complaint has been filed against Kirk R. Daigle, a University of Maine student - the fifth student to be named in a such a lawsuit this academic year. The complaint alleges that Daigle said, "I'm from Bangor and three of my best friends threw a fag off the bridge . . . "

SURVEY: TWO-THIRDS FAVOR GAY-RIGHTS LAW

Portland Press Herald - Thursday, January 29, 1998
A new independent survey shows that nearly two-thirds of Mainers polled this month would vote to uphold the state's gay-rights law if the vote were held now.

NO ARGUMENTS

Casco Bay Weekly - Thursday January 29, 1998
Those opposing civil rights for gay men and lesbians have a history of contradicting themselves - just one more good reason to vote "NO"on Feb. 10

A VOTE 'NO' ON FEB. 10 A VOTE AGAINST DECEIT TOO

Editorial
Portland Press Herald - Wednesday, January 28, 1998
"Let there be no confusion: Those who would defend the civil rights of all God's children should vote ''NO'' on Feb. 10."

GAY-RIGHTS GROUP BLASTS OPPOSITION PHONE POLL

Bangor Daily News - Tuesday, January 27, 1998
A telephone survey has angered some supporters of the gay-rights law that has been frozen pending a special election Feb. 10: They say volunteers for the Christian Coalition of Maine are telling voters that the ballot will include a question on partial-birth abortion.

FOES TRYING TO CONFUSE VOTERS, SUPPORTERS OF GAY RIGHTS CLAIM

Portland Press Herald - Tuesday, January 27, 1998
The Christian Coalition of Maine, which supports the Feb. 10 referendum, is calling voters statewide and asking three questions: ''Are you likely to vote in the special election Feb. 10? Do you favor special rights for homosexuals? Do you favor banning partial birth abortions?''
The repeal of Maine's gay rights law is the only issue on the ballot.

VOTE 'NO' ON FEB. 10

Editorial
Portland Press Herald - Sunday, January 25, 1998
"Vote 'no' on Feb.10 to fight insidious bias. Discrimination based on sexual orientation depends on the impossible task of a public judgment of a private life."

LOW VOTER TURNOUT COULD DOOM GAY-RIGHTS LAW

Portland Press Herald - Sunday, January 25, 1998
Maine is about to decide whether its laws should protect homosexuals from discrimination. The issue has been a matter of heated debate since the 1970s. But with a vote to decide the issue just 16 days away, political analysts and advocates on both sides aren't sure that Maine's vast group of ''average middle'' voters care enough to go to the polls.

DALE MCCORMICK FINDS JOB AS TREASURER CHALLENGING, REWARDING

Bangor Daily News - Tuesday, January 20, 1998 Dale McCormick
The first woman elected state treasurer and the first lesbian elected to a state Senate in 1990, McCormick was also the first woman to be admitted to the Carpenters Apprenticeship in 1979. After owning her own construction company in Iowa, she moved to Maine in 1980 to become a teacher at Cornerstone, a house-building school in Brunswick.

GAY RIGHTS SUPPORTERS GETTING MORE DONATIONS

Bangor Daily News - Saturday, January 17, 1998
Donations were pouring in to the offices of Maine Won't Discriminate. With people from Maine and all over the country sending $100, $500, they have raised more than $200,000 and have about $90,000 left.

IS MAINE THE FIRST DOMINO?

Bay Windows - Thursday January 15, 1998
"That is the thankless task now before fair-minded residents of Maine who are scrambling to devise ways to reach others like them and get them out to vote Feb. 10 in support of the state gay and lesbian civil rights law. "

GETTING TO NO

Editorial
Bangor Daily News - Thursday January 15, 1998
"One of the useful results of the 20-year debate over gay rights is that it has pulled out of the closet, one by one, all the terrible fears that could visit Maine if the state told its citizens they could not discriminate against a neighbor based on his or her sexual orientation. In the next month before the latest vote, let's hope the debate will chase away the remaining demons."

BOSTONIANS MOBILIZE TO HELP MAINE WITH TOUGH BALLOT BATTLE

Bay Windows - Thursday January 15, 1998
With the February 10 ballot referendum on Maine's gay rights law looming, a group of Boston gay men and lesbians have banded together to assist Maine activists in their campaign to beat back conservatives' attempt to repeal the legislation.

M.D. HARMON COLUMN: CAMPAIGN AGAINST 'PEOPLE'S VETO' TURNS DOWN AND DIRTY

Editorial
Portland Press Herald - Monday, January 12, 1998
A distressing column with more misinformation than a slew of Civic League flyers. "The effort to defeat the ''people's veto'' referendum Feb. 10 to overturn Maine's new gay rights law is now in full cry. So let's look at what we're being told - and not being told - about it."

VOTING 'NO' MEANS EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL

Editorial
Portland Press Herald - Sunday, January 11, 1998
On Feb. 10 Mainers will take an important step in America's journey to become a nation for all citizens. On that date, the people of Maine will be asked if they want to repeal a law extending civil rights protections to gay men and lesbians. They should vote ''no.''

HEATH KNOWS HOW JESUS WOULD VOTE

Bill Nemitz
Portland Press Herald - Friday, January 9, 1998
"His Bible is twisted beyond all recognition, but Michael Heath's message, at long last, is crystal clear. The executive director of the Maine Christian Civic League, hiding behind the shamefully misleading banner ''YES for EQUAL RIGHTS,'' wants Maine to do more than just repeal our new law granting just that to homosexuals. -- He wants us to make their lives miserable.

CIVIC LEAGUE CLAIMS LANDLORDS HAVE A RIGHT NOT TO RENT TO GAYS

Portland Press Herald - Thursday, January 8, 1998
''If a Maine businessman or landlord wants to discriminate against a person because of their sexual orientation, they should be able to do so,'' wrote Michael S. Heath, head of the Christian Civic League of Maine, in a fund-raising letter sent to members in November.

SOUTH PORTLAND TO FOLLOW LAW ON POLLING PLACES

Portland Press Herald - Tuesday, January 6, 1998
The City Council is expected to vote to establishing five polling places in the city for a special election in February - as a judge has ordered it to do.

DIOCESE'S NEUTRALITY MAY TIP VOTE AGAINST EQUAL RIGHTS

Maine Sunday Telegram - Sunday, January 4, 1998
Voters will decide in a Feb. 10 referendum whether to repeal the gay-rights law, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland has refused to ask church members to back the law and reject repeal. Instead, the diocese is officially neutral in the debate over repeal.

Includes Sidebar Stories:


BANGOR DAILY NEWS COVER FEATURE JANUARY 3, 1998 (3 stories)

  • GAY LIFESTYLE REJECTED FOR LIFE WITH GOD
  • Bangor Daily News - Saturday, January 3, 1998
    She had been attracted to women ever since she was a little girl growing up in a small French Catholic community in Maine. But after she came out, she taught herself not to be a lesbian with help from Jesus, she said.

  • GAY RIGHTS DEBATE CAUSES ANGUISH FOR SOME
  • Bangor Daily News - Saturday, January 3, 1998
    Jasper Wyman was the first representative to speak against the gay-rights bill. But as the executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine from 1984 to 1993, Wyman was perhaps the single most vocal opponent of the bill, campaigning against it year after year.

  • GAY RIGHTS DEBATE OUT OF THE CLOSET
  • Bangor Daily News - Saturday, January 3, 1998 Lois Reckitt
    Like most people growing up in the 1950s and '60s, Lois Reckitt didn't know any gay people. "I didn't know they existed. I never met a lesbian until I was in college. Then I met one," she said. "One."

    JUDGE RULES AGAINST SOUTH PORTLAND PLAN FOR GAY VOTE

    Portland Press Herald - Saturday, January 3, 1998
    A judge ordered city officials to open at least five polling places for a Feb. 10 vote on whether to repeal a new law extending equal rights to homosexuals. The city had decided earlier to open only one polling place because officials expected low voter turnout.

    ELITE MEDIA SHOULD LOOK BEYOND ANTI-GAY REPORTS

    Op-Ed
    Bangor Daily News - December 30, 1997
    Larry Lockman was second fiddle to Carolyn Cosby in the 1995 anti-rights referendum. He sends regular rants to the Bangor Daily News -- a view into the belly of the beast...

    GRANITE STATE OFFERS LESSONS WITH NEW HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

    Editorial
    Portland Press Herald - Tuesday, December 30, 1997
    "Maine should not lag behind New Hampshire or any other state when it comes to securing the rights of it citizens. That's a lesson to take into the voting booth Feb. 10.

    FOES OF RIGHTS IGNORE REALITY OF GAYS' FEARS

    Bill Nemitz
    Portland Press Herald - Friday, December 5, 1997
    It won't be long before Maine's homophobes are back on the streets, telling us that the new state law extending equal rights to homosexuals is the work of the devil and that gay people in these parts never had it so good. But they won't tell you about Kurt Pray.

    STRAIGHT STORY

    Editorial
    Bangor Daily News - December 2, 1997
    " If the Christian Coalition and the Christian Civic League expect voters to scrap what was passed overwhelmingly by the Legislature and signed enthusiastically into law by the governor, they'll have to come up with better reasons than they have so far. At the very least, they need to get their story straight."

    EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL - MAINE STILL WON'T VOTE TO DISCRIMINATE

    Editorial
    Portland Press Herald - Sunday, November 30, 1997
    Voters shouldn't be apathetic about safeguarding the rights of homosexual people.

    SHALL WE DANCE?

    Casco Bay Weekly - November 27, 1997
    It's Friday night at Maine Ballroom Dance. The dancers swinging around the room in same-sex couples are gay. Ever since she opened for business, Mandy Ball has offered classes for gay people who want to dance with same-sex partners.

    HIGH COURT TO HEAR DENTIST'S APPEAL

    Portland Press Herald - Thursday, November 27, 1997
    The US Supreme court said it will hear an appeal by Bangor dentist Randon Bragdon. A lower court said he violated the federal Americans With Disabilities Act when he told Sidney Abbott he would only fill her cavity at a hospital. The court is using the dispute to clarify protections against bias for people with the AIDS virus.

    VOTE SET FOR FEB. 10 AFTER GAY RIGHTS BACKERS END PETITION CHALLENGE

    Associated Press - Wednesday November 26, 1997
    Gov. Angus King on Wednesday proclaimed February 10 as the date of a statewide referendum on Maine's gay rights law.

    JUDGE UPHOLDS PETITIONS CHALLENGING GAY RIGHTS LAW

    Associated Press - Tuesday November 25, 1997
    Supporters of Maine's gay rights law say they will probably decide my midweek whether to ask the state supreme court to stop a referendum from being held on the suspended law.

    ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE

    The Washington Post - Sunday, November 23, 1997
    ...So he told his dorm mates the truth: For his first 17 years, he'd been Alice Myers, a tomboy from Paris, Maine who kept her hair short and loathed dresses but was, nonetheless, a girl. Just before her senior year at Exeter, however, Alice figured it out: Despite her female body, she felt like a man, a state known as being "transgendered."

    JUDGE SIDES WITH STATE ON CHALLENGE TO ANTI-GAY RIGHTS REFERENDUM

    Associated Press - Friday November 21, 1997
    Maine's new gay-rights law appears headed for a referendum after a judge indicated Friday he will uphold the validity of petitions collected by groups seeking to repeal the law. Cumberland County Superior Court Justice Roland Cole put off a final judgment pending a hearing Monday on issues in the case that remain unresolved.

    JUDGE HEARS CHALLENGE TO ANTI-GAY RIGHTS REFERENDUM

    Associated Press - Wednesday November 19, 1997
    A ruling is expected by week's end from a Superior Court judge who heard oral arguments in a lawsuit filed by defenders of Maine's gay rights law. The plaintiffs are challenging the validity of thousands of petition signatures filed by opponents who want to repeal the measure.

    CHRISTIAN CIVIC LEAGUE CAN JOIN STATE IN DEFENDING REFERENDUM ON GAY RIGHTS

    Associated Press - Wednesday November 5, 1997
    The Christian Civic League of Maine can join the state in defending an upcoming referendum on gay rights, a judge ruled Monday.

    MAINE ATTORNEY GENERAL FILES HATE CRIME SUIT AGAINST UMO STUDENT

    Tuesday October 28, 1997
    The lawsuit alleges the student made an explicit threat of violence on the campus computer network based upon bias toward gays and lesbians. (The Maine A-G's office issued this press release)

    GOVERNOR EXPECTED TO JOIN GAY-RIGHTS FRAY

    Portland Press Herald - Wednesday, October 29, 1997
    "I don't think for a moment he's going to base his stand on thisreferendum on how it's going to fly" with voters... "It's about doing the right thing, and I expect Angus as chief executive officer of this state to play and take a strong role."

    GAY-RIGHTS ADVOCATES CHALLENGE PETITIONS

    Portland Press Herald - Tuesday, October 28, 1997
    Gay-rights advocates challenged an impending anti-gay-rights referendum Monday by filing a lawsuit claiming that petitions calling for the vote were fatally flawed.

    BATES BRASS INKS PACT WITH GAY SUPPORTERS

    Lewiston, Maine Sun - Journal Monday October 27, 1997
    Students and some faculty members staged a sit-in demonstration at Bates College Friday morning to drum up support for a contract to eradicate homophobia at the school

    ROPE-A-DOPE A TACTIC IN MAINE GAY RIGHTS FIGHT?

    Bangor Daily News - Saturday, October 25, 1997
    Mike Heath, the executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, knows a little about playing the rope-a-dope game. He snookered the Maine press corps into declaring a premature victory dance on the gay rights law.

    PETITIONS VALIDATED, CLEARING THE WAY FOR GAY-RIGHTS VOTE

    Portland Press Herald - Tuesday, October 21, 1997 Dan Gwadosky
    Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky said today opponents of a law protecting homosexuals from discrimination have collected enough signatures to let Maine voters decide whether to veto the law. He said sponsors of a so-called ''people's veto'' collected about 7,000 more than the number they needed to schedule a statewide referendum.

    AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

    Maine State Democratic e-mail newletter - October 1997
    An exchange of letters regarding repeal of the Maine Gay Rights Bill between Michael Heath and the Chair of the Maine Democratic Committee, Christopher Hall. Polite to the extreme but brimming with salient points.

    STATE TO RULE MONDAY ON ANTI-GAY RIGHTS SIGNATURES

    Portland Press Herald - Wednesday, October 15, 1997
    Secretary of State Dan A. Gwadosky will announce Oct. 20 whether organizers of the ''peoples' veto'' gathered the 51,131 petition signatures required to hold the referendum giving voters an opportunity to veto gay rights legislation approved last spring by the Legislature and the governor.

    CATHOLIC STATEMENT ON HOMOSEXUALITY A SOLID WORK OF CHARITY

    Editorial
    Portland Press Herald - Monday, October 6, 1997
    The Portland diocese's response in the context of the 'people's veto' is also thoughtful and appropriate.

    STEVE MEYERS CARTOON

    Editorial
    Portland Press Herald - Sunday October 5, 1997

    "What do you mean I can't discriminate because of your personal faith? Ain't that what you call them 'special rights"?

    DIOCESE UNMOVED BY LETTER ON GAYS

    Portland Press Herald - Friday, October 3, 1997
    A spokesman for the diocese, acknowledged that the church's distinction between accepting a homosexual orientation and disapproving of homosexual sex is hard for the public to grasp. ''The distinction is critically important to the church, but nobody else,'' he said. ''To expect a person who is homosexual not to act on that sexuality is absurd to some people.''

    JUST THE FACTS

    Editorial
    Bangor Daily News - September 23,1997
    "Now that gay rights appears headed for a referendum, it already may be too late to urge both sides to keep the coming debate civil, to stick to the facts."

    Also the political cartoon appearing on the editorial page


    GAY-RIGHTS BATTLE LINES REFORMING

    Portland Press Herald - Sunday, September 21, 1997
    Political experts say they expect a campaign similar to the last anti-gay rights initiative, with victory going to the side that is best organized, best able to get core supporters to the polls, and best able to frame the debate in a way that sways undecided voters to their side.

    CHURCH MUST GET OFF FENCE ON GAY RIGHTS

    Bill Nemitz
    Portland Press Herald - Sunday, September 21, 1997
    "Supporting the 'people's veto' goes beyond the tenet that homosexuality is a sin. The veto implies that condemning homosexuals as sinners isn't enough - society also must be allowed to discriminate against them, punish them for theirsexual orientation."

    GAY RIGHTS DEBATE LIKELY TO BE HOT ONE

    Lewiston Sun-Journal - September 20,1997
    Two Maine political analysts agree that voters will be tugged from one argument to the other in what may be a fierce and, perhaps, nasty campaign over the state's suspended "gay rights" legislation.

    PETITIONS FORCE VOTE ON GAY RIGHTS

    Portland Press Herald - Friday, September 19, 1997
    Four months after Maine's gay-rights law was signed by the governor, two Christian groups announce they have enough petition signatures to force a statewide referendum aimed at rescinding the new law.


    GAY RIGHTS OPPONENTS COLLECT ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO FORCE `PEOPLE'S VETO'

    Associated Press - Thursday September 18, 1997
    Saying they overcame great odds to reach their goal, gay rights opponents announced today they gathered more than enough signatures needed to force a referendum on the new law barring discrimination against homosexuals. "It's a miracle of God,'' said Michael Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine.

    YOUNG, GAY, VULNERABLE TO BULLIES

    Bill Nemitz
    Portland Press Herald - Sunday, September 14, 1997
    "...He wants all of us to know that there are many like him and the kid from Augusta. Kids who hear the word ''dyke'' or ''fag'' and run because to stick around is to have your head kicked in. Kids who cower because to fight back is to prolong the torture."

    PREJUDICE OF ANY KIND IS WRONG

    Editorial
    Portland Press Herald - Saturday, September 13, 1997
    The only way to combat such prejudice is for society to send clear messages about tolerance and acceptance. Sexual orientation is not a reason to hate, scorn or reject any individual. (Response to the preceding (9/12/97) news story)

    BOYS CHARGED WITH ASSAULT ON TEEN PERCEIVED AS GAY

    Portland Press Herald - Thursday September 11, 1997
    Augusta police charged four boys Tuesday night with assault after they allegeclly taunted and spit at a 15-year-old Cony High School student they believed to be gay.

    POLICE INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ASSAULTS AT CONFERENCE

    Casco Bay Weekly - Thursday September 11, 1997
    Leaders of Outright are charging that a man assaulted as many as seven Portland young people during a conference held at the University of Maine at Farmington last month.

    DIRECTOR HIRED FOR THE AIDS PROJECT

    Portland Press Herald - Thursday, September 4, 1997
    George W. Friou's was the unanimous choice of a committee that reviewed 40 applicants for a job that opened in March,when Stephen T. Moskey resigned.

    ECCE HOMO: MEDIA MESS

    Casco Bay Weekly - Thursday August 28, 1997
    (Rick MacPherson's final column)
    Rick MacPherson is leaving Casco Bay Weekly and Maine. But not without one last assessment of the community that could not bring itself to embrace him as its print spokeman.

    ALWAYS READ BEFORE YOU SIGN

    BIZ Magazine - August 1997
    "Next time a petition is shoved under your nose, whether the person is wearing a little button marked "Christian" or not, read it very carefully before you sign."

    GAY TIMES CELEBRATED IN BAR HARBOR

    Bangor Daily News - Thursday August 21, 1997 Diane Elze
    More than l00 men and women, members of Maine's gay, lesbian and transgender community took in a bit of history at this year's second annual Gay Times Festival at College of the Atlantic. Featured speakers were Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon.

    OPPONENTS TO GAY-RIGHTS BILL SAY PETITION DRIVE COMING UP SHORT

    Portland Press Herald - Friday, August 22, 1997
    Veto organizers had set today as their deadline for collecting 60,000 signatures. But by mid-week, their signatures totaled only 10,000.

    ISSING STORY

    LINCOLN TEEN LINKED TO CASE OF GAY BASHING

    Bangor Daily News - Thursday, August 21, 1997
    According to the attorney general's complaint, the victim was walking down Coffin Street in Howland when Colbeth allegedly ran across the street and grabbed him. Colbeth then reportedly spun the man around and hit him with a closed fist several times in the head, chest and shoulders. While he was hitting the man, Colbeth yelled ''faggot'' and ''queer.''

    -->

    STATE FILES CIVIL RIGHTS CHARGE AGAINST MAN ACCUSED OF HARASSING MOTORISTS

    Associated Press - Friday August 15, 1997
    The complaint alleges that Bray drove immediately in front of the victims' car for several miles, slamming on his brakes and causing the victims to stop suddenly. At one point Bray reportedly came to a complete and sudden stop in front of the victims' vehicle and, with the assistance of another pickup truck, blocked the victims' passage on the turnpike.

    GAY RIGHTS LAW BACKED BY POLL

    Bangor Daily News - Thursday, August 14, 1997
    A majority of Mainers say they would vote to keep the state's gay rights law on the books.

    GAY RIGHTS VETO EFFORT SINKING

    Lewiston Sun-Journal - Saturday August 8, 1997 Madore
    A key leader in the drive to force a people's veto of Maine's new so-called "gay rights" law admitted Friday he doesn't think the campaign will succeed.

    CLINTON, GAY LEADERS CONFER
    ACTIVISTS ASK CLINTON TO USE HIS OFFICE AS A `BULLY PULPIT'

    Washington Blade - Friday July 25, 1997
    Dale McCormack, the openly Gay treasurer of the state of Maine, and others who attended the meeting said Clinton reiterated his support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). They said the president also promised to consider a request by the Gay leaders that he build on his support for Gay issues in his first term by speaking out in public forums on a host of issues such as ENDA, anti-Gay hate crimes, and discrimination against Gay youth in the nation's schools.

    CLINTON TELLS GAY LEADERS HE'LL SUPPORT NATIONAL LAW

    Portland Press Herald - Thursday, July 24, 1997
    State Treasurer Dale McCormick was one of only 11 gay and lesbian leaders nationally to get the word personally from President Clinton: He'll push this year for a national law that will make it illegal to deny employment to gays and lesbians.

    CONSERVATIVE GROUPS SEEK PETITION SUPPORT


    Falmouth Forecaster - Thursday July 17, 1997
    Hiding wingnuts
    Two volunteers spent last Friday (July 11th) afternoon outside Shaw's Supermarket in the Falmouth Shopping Center, soliciting support for a petition to send the state legislature's recent extension of civil rights to homosexuals to referendum in November. They got about 20 signatures.

    CAMPAIGN IS 'POSITIVE' -- ABOUT SIN

    Bill Nemitz
    Portland Press Herald - Wednesday, July 16, 1997
    Bill Nemitz on Michael Heath's rhetoric: " So much for a ''positive'' campaign. And, for those who blindly embraced his angelic promises to keep it clean and avoid inflammatory attacks, so much for Heath's credibility."

    GAY PRIDE EVENTS FOSTER OPTIMISM

    Bangor Daily News - Monday, July 14, 1997
    Spirits were high Saturday morning as the parade came together on Exchange Street. There was a strong theme of rainbow colors, with balloons and streamers. Downtown Bangor was characteristically sleepy at noontime as the train of gay pride supporters got rolling. Some drivers stopped along Main Street, blowing their horns, whooping and hollering in unison with the paraders, and giving them the thumbs up.

    "DON'T SIGN PETITIONS TO REPEAL CIVIL RIGHTS FOR HOMOSEXUALS"

    Editorial
    Maine Sunday Telegram - Sunday, July 13, 1997
    In this editorial The Maine Sunday Telegram urges citizens "Don't Sign On"

    LEAGUE'S RHETORIC OFFENDS GAY-RIGHTS BACKERS

    Portland Press Herald - Saturday, July 12, 1997 Michael Heath
    Despite promises to keep the debate civil, phrases like ''moral gutter'' and ''Sodom and Gomorrah'' are used to build support for an effort to repeal the law in the July newsletter of the Christian Civic League of Maine.

    DECLINE TO SIGN

    The Falmouth Forecaster - Thursday July 10, 1997
    The editors of The Forecaster - serving Falmouth, Cumberland, North Yarmouth, Yarmouth and Freeport - urge their readers "Don't Sign On"

    AIDS QUILT STITCHES MEMORIES TOGETHER

    York County Coast Star - Thursday, July 10, 1997 Ron Carbonneau
    "Ron Carbonneau wept when he gazed down at Jay A. Mills' panel in the AIDS Memorial Quilt. As the tears rolled down his cheeks, he tried to smile. Carbonneau and a group of his friends designed the square for Mills after he died of AIDS in1990..."

    CHRISTIAN CIVIC LEAGUE DIRECTOR SPEAKS IN CHERRYFIELD

    Downeast Coastal Press (Cutler, ME) - July 8-14. 1997 Michael Heath
    Discrimination, public ridicule and the loss of freedoms were among themes at the First Baptist Church of Cherryfield on June 29. But those in danger of suffering such treatment, according to the sermon, are neither blacks, women, homosexuals nor ethnic minorities -- but fundamentalist Christians.

    ANTI-GAY-RIGHTS GROUPS LAUNCH DRIVE

    Portland Press Herald -Saturday, July 5, 1997
    Two anti-gay-rights groups, the Christian Coalition of Maine and the Christian Civic League of Maine, officially kicked off a campaign to gather enough signatures to halt a bill prohibiting discrimination against homosexuals.

    REMEMBERING ROLAND'S

    Casco Bay Weekly -- Thursday July 3, 1997 Drawing of Roland's
    Portland's first openly gay bar opened for business 30 years ago. A lot has changed since then.

    VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

    Portland Press Herald - Thursday, July 1, 1997
    Four letters in responses to the Press Herald's June 19 editorial calling for a "respectful" campaign.

    BRY'S QUICK STOP PROMOTES PROMOTES HATE IN MADAWASKA

    Thursay, June 26, 1997 Tee Shirt image
    Hate is alive and well in Northern Maine. Witness these tee shirts ordered by Bry Daigle, owner of Bry's Quick Stop in Madawaska, Maine.

    BOTH SIDES SHOULD HONOR A PLEDGE TO KEEP THE EFFORT RESPECTFUL

    Editorial
    Portland Press Herald - Thursday, June 19, 1997
    The Press Herald buys into the rhetoric: "While overturning a fair and good law is itself negative, the Christian Civic League of Maine has pledged a positive campaign. The pledge is commendable and heartening..."
    See also:
    VOICE OF THE PEOPLE --Three responses published Tuesday July 1, 1997

    THE MARISCAL EXPRESS

    Portland Press Herald -- Sunday, June 15, 1997 Esduardo Mariscal
    During the past two years, Esduardo Mariscal has shaken up Portland modern dance with his bold images, wild costumes and absurd humor. In a small dance scene that often has been dominated by cerebral works that favor an austere beauty, Mariscal's dances are like a welcome, dizzying trip to an amusement park.

    CONGRESS SHOULD BAN BIAS IN THE WORK PLACE AGAINST GAYS, LESBIANS

    Portland Press Herald Editorial -- Saturday, June 14, 1997
    All will benefit from banning job discrimination against homosexual people. (On the re-introduction of ENDA in Washington)

    GROUPS ORGANIZE TO REPEAL GAY RIGHTS

    Portland Press Herald -- Saturday, June 14, 1997
    The Christian Coalition of Maine and the Christian Civic League of Maine said Friday that they have more than 700 volunteers ready to circulate petitions calling for a statewide vote to repeal the bill protecting homosexuals from certain forms of discrimination. They consider 1,000 the minimum needed to wage a successful campaign.

    CHRISTIAN CIVIC LEAGUE VOTES TO PURSUE ANTI-GAY-RIGHTS REPEAL

    Associated Press -- Friday June 13, 1997
    The Christian Civic League of Maine decided Friday to go ahead with its campaign to repeal a bill protecting homosexuals from certain forms of discrimination.

    ELEVEN REASONS FOR PRIDE

    Casco Bay Weekly -- Thursday June 12, 1997 David Garrity, Karen Geraghty, Kathy Kidman, Jonathan Lee, Jim Neal, Pat Peard, Paula Stockholm
    The most influential people in Portland's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities.

    CHRISTIAN CIVIC LEAGUE LAUNCHES 'EXPLORATORY' ANTI-GAY PETITION CAMPAIGN

    Falmouth Forecaster -- Thursday June 12, 1997 Ron Dubois
    Ron Dubois of Westbrook put in four hours at the polls on election day, hoping to get local voters to join the Christian Civic League of Maine's campaign against Maine's new gay rights law. He got about 22

    CIVIC LEAGUE WAVES FUSE ON GAY RIGHTS

    Bill Nemitz
    Portland Press Herald -- Wednesday, June 11, 1997
    It's tempting to dismiss Heath's proposed referendum - grounded in the belief that homosexuality is a sin and thus should not be protected by law. But this is different - and potentially much more dangerous.

    GAY RIGHTS VICTORY CELEBRATED

    Bangor Daily News --Monday June 9, 1997
    During Saturday's gala the state's gay rights advocates celebrated finally having won equality in employment, housing, credit and public accommodations - rights they said most Mainers have taken for granted.

    LESBIAN HEALTH ISSUES STUDIED

    Portland Press Herald -- Monday, June 9, 1997
    It's the first study of its kind in the United States, according to researchers at the Maine Center for Osteoporosis Research and Education in Bangor. But it's one of several new research projects involving lesbians' health and their access to health care that will be conducted in Maine this summer.

    KING FAILS TO DISCOURAGE 'PEOPLE'S VETO'

    Portland Press Herald -- Saturday, June 7, 1997
    Michael Heath, the Maine Christian Civic League's executive director, gave King a letter calling the law ''morally offensive to hundreds of thousands of Mainers and potentially costly to some of our citizens.''

    LEAVE IT ALONE

    Ellsworth American -- June 1, 1997
    The Ellsworth American, the main weekly newspaper for Hancock County, has had a history of stands on GLBT rights which has gradually moved from hostile to neutral to mildly supportive. But here is an editorial of theirs this week:

    GAY RIGHTS LAW GETS LOCAL SUPPORT

    Rockland Courrier Gazette -- June 1, 1997
    All but one Midcoast legislator voted for the so-called gay rights bill last week. Only Rep. Robert Spear, R-Nobleboro, of the area delegation voted against the measure.

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