06/20/2008
Anti-Gay Christian Group Gives Up on Repealing Maine Gay Rights Law
Another one bites the dust. Anti-gay initiatives are failing on both coasts.
The Christian Civic League in Maine is giving up on efforts it launched in April to repeal the state's gay rights laws. Its initiative, for which it had only collected a third of the necessary signatures, was a proposed law that "had several components, including repealing Maine's law protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, credit and education. It would have barred the use of state funds by the attorney general's office for its civil rights teams and civil rights programs in public schools. It would have reaffirmed Maine's existing law that restricts marriages to one man and one woman, and ensured that only one unmarried person or one married couple jointly could adopt a person."
Michael Heath, the League's executive director and organizer of the initative, said that one of the issues was that volunteers ""[didn't] want to be aligned with bigotry and homophobia and hatred."
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 9:47 AM EST by Andy in Gay Adoption, Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, Maine, News | Permalink
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Good, maybe the crazy chritians are scary off normal thinking people. We will have a big vote in Nov here in Fla to add discrimation to our state's constitution. We have to get the word out to the retiree's that this will impact their lives big time as well.
Posted by: davefromtampa | Jun 20, 2008 10:07:16 AM
""[didn't] want to be aligned with bigotry and homophobia and hatred."
And yet they're volunteers with this group....seems a little too late to not be considered a bigot, homophobe, or hateful. Hey, Guys! The light's over here. Not in the dank asshole of Relgious Right factions.
Posted by: woodroad34 | Jun 20, 2008 10:07:59 AM
"...volunteers ""[didn't] want to be aligned with bigotry and homophobia and hatred."
FINALLY!!! Some folks out there are getting the message! Read the fine outline and you see exactly what lays above the dotted line you are signing on.
It is nice to see that these reich wing initiatives are finally starting to fall apart. Sure, there will still be core groups fueling hatred where ever they can, but when people actually start listening to the message, they realize just how narrow minded it really is.
I will be glad when Obama gets into office, providing the Democrats can hold onto the majority in the house and senate, perhaps all the Theocratic bull shit that has been shoved down our throats the past 8 years can finally be flushed out of government.
Posted by: Rad | Jun 20, 2008 10:14:20 AM
Isn't that special!
Posted by: anon | Jun 20, 2008 10:29:02 AM
While this may seem like we are finally emerging from the bigotry and hatred our community has always faced from Christians I'd like to remind you that these people are merciless in their crusade to dominate every aspect of people's lives.
Anti-gay groups are not abandoning their root cause, they're only regrouping to launch an all-out assault on gays, the American Constitution, and anyone who does not believe as they do.
Posted by: JerzeeMike | Jun 20, 2008 10:35:16 AM
Well, the thing that always amazes me is how quick these groups are to come together to put money and resources in stopping something that has very little effect on their personal lives or even has any effect on anyone near them, yet kids go to sleep hungry, there is homeless people on the street, people without healthcare, people without jobs, animal cruelty...you name it. think about how great things could be when you work toward a positive result, versus a negative one.
I look at gay marriage and gay adoption as a stone rolling quickly down a hill...they aren't going to be able to stop it. Everyday I see another article about two dads or two women and their kids.
Posted by: paul | Jun 20, 2008 10:46:41 AM
what an odd thing for the group's director to say. TO admit that while some of your volunteers do not wish to be associated with "hatred" that you have no problem with it.
Posted by: Dan B | Jun 20, 2008 10:52:08 AM
They're able to get money because the church isn't taxed.
And it should be.
You're right about a stone rolling quickly down a hill, Paul
Gay people have got to get used to WINNING!
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Jun 20, 2008 10:52:26 AM
yea dan, something's off in that story. i find it hard to believe that the director of the League referred to his own cause as promoting "bigotry and homophobia and hatred."
Posted by: Jefferson | Jun 20, 2008 11:20:32 AM
yea dan, something's off in that story. i find it hard to believe that the director of the League referred to his own cause as promoting "bigotry and homophobia and hatred." @ Jefferson
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I think that quote may be a little out of context. It wouldn't surprise me to find out the quote read something like "associated with hate, homophobia and bigotry which our group has unfairly been portrayed as by liberal media and their homosexual activist masters..."
Posted by: Ed | Jun 20, 2008 12:13:04 PM
...And another down, another one down, another one bites the dust. The key win here is the public recognition of the alignment of homophobia and hatred.
Posted by: rudy | Jun 20, 2008 12:56:14 PM
RUDY beat me to it.
Posted by: Chas | Jun 20, 2008 1:47:22 PM