• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Jennifer Coolidge reveals ‘terrible mistake’ she made early on in her career
  • Britney Spears Goes to Gym in Silk Dress and Heels With ‘Hot, Crazy Husband’ Sam Asghari
  • Study finds the political impact of marriage varies by sexual identity

U.S. Congressman Mike Michaud: ‘Yes I am’ Gay

Andy Towle November 4, 2013

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, (D-ME) who is also running for governor of Maine, came out of the closet today in response to "whisper campaigns, insinuations and push-polls some of the people opposed to my candidacy have been using to raise questions about [his] personal life".

MichaudWrites Michaud in a Portland Press Herald op-ed:

"They want people to question whether I am gay.Allow me to save them the trouble with a simple, honest answer: 'Yes I am. But why should it matter?'"

Adds Michaud:

That may seem like a big announcement to some people. For me, it’s just a part of who I am, as much as being a third-generation mill worker or a lifelong Mainer. One thing I do know is that it has nothing to do with my ability to lead the state of Maine.

Whether I was punching a time clock at Great Northern Paper Company for 29 years, serving the people of Maine in the state Legislature, or fighting for our nation’s veterans on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, my personal life has never factored into how I do my job.

That’s certainly not going to change if I’m elected governor. While I’ve grown and evolved over the course of my career, I’ve never lost sight of where I came from.

My father worked in the mill for 43 years. My grandfather before him for 40 years. I was the second of six children, and from a young age our parents instilled in us the values of hard work, integrity and honesty.

Most of all, I was brought up believing you should judge a person based on the content of his or her character, not by their race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. That’s a value I know most Mainers share.

MaineMichaud says he does not want to be seen as someone who's ashamed of who he is, and plans to run a positive campaign:

Growing up in a large Franco-American Catholic family, it’s never been in my nature to talk about myself. I write this now merely to let my opponents and the outside interests who fund them know that I am not ashamed of who I am. And if seeing someone from my background, in my position openly acknowledge the fact that he’s gay makes it a little bit easier for future generations to live their lives openly and without fear, all the better.

I don’t plan to make my personal life or my opponents’ personal lives an issue in this campaign. We’ve had enough negativity in our politics and too many personal attacks over the last few years. We owe it to the people of Maine to focus on how we get our state back on track.

Michaud is running against incumbent Republican Governor Paul LePage. Asurvey published on October 19th showed Michaud and LePage nearly even, with independent candidate Eliot Cutler behind them by a few percentage points.

Mike Tipping, at the Bangor Daily News, thinks Michaud's coming out will help his campaign.

A few of his thoughts, AFTER THE JUMP…

Mike Tipping, via the Bangor Daily News:

First of all, the Maine electorate is more accepting of fairness and equality for gays and lesbians than the nation as a whole and Mainers have supported a number of civil rights laws, including passing marriage equality for same-sex couples by referendum last year.

Second, many or most anti-gay voters who make their decisions based on these kinds of issues were never going to vote for Michaud anyway. His public support for same-sex marriage and abortion rights had probably already alienated them. In a recent national NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, 20% of voters said mere support for same-sex marriage would be a determining factor for them in voting against a candidate.

Third, the specific dynamics of this particular election may be of benefit to Michaud. Governor LePage seems to have already locked down the conservative end of the electorate (and most of the anti-gay vote) and the fluidity in the race is among the moderate and progressive voters who will decide between Michaud and Cutler. Up to this point, Michaud seems to have had an advantage over Cutler among a wide swath of these voters (and a lead in the polls) because of name recognition and issues of economics and class (the millworker vs. the millionaire), but Cutler has found some purchase on social issues…

…Fourth, this part of Michaud’s identity will make him a symbol for supporters of equal rights for LGBT people across the country (whether he likes it or not) and will likely dramatically increase his fundraising potential.

Read Tipping's full column HERE.

Topics: Actor, Coming Out, News More Posts About: I'm Gay, Maine, Mike Michaud, News

Related Posts
  • Chase Chrisley Posts Cryptic Message About ‘Getting Through’ Tough Situations After Todd Allegedly Paid Blackmailer
  • Russia Blocks Facebook, Accusing it of Restricting Access to Russian Media;
  • Is Dennis Rodman Gay? Been With A Man? Just a Fantasy, He Says. A Fantasy He’s Had…But Hasn’t Acted On. Dennis Rodman Just Came Out ‘Gay Adjacent’ and Free
  • Britney Spears Goes to Gym in Silk Dress and Heels With ‘Hot, Crazy Husband’ Sam Asghari

    Britney Spears Goes to Gym in Silk Dress and Heels With ‘Hot, Crazy Husband’ Sam Asghari

    Published by OK Magazine @britneyspears/instagram Britney Spears is trying something new! The princess of pop changed up her look while joining husband Sam Asghari in the gym, opting for a pink, silk dress with lace and …Read More »
  • Study finds the political impact of marriage varies by sexual identity

    Study finds the political impact of marriage varies by sexual identity

    Published by PsyPost New research indicates that marriage and political activism are intertwined, but the nature of this relationship differs based on sexual identities. Married heterosexual individuals tend to be less politically active, while sexual minorities, …Read More »
  • ‘It’s great!’ Elliot Page talks dating since coming out as trans

    ‘It’s great!’ Elliot Page talks dating since coming out as trans

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Elliot Page is having more fun dating since his transition. The 36-year-old star- who was previously married to Emma Portner from 2018 until 2021 – was born female and lived as …Read More »
  • Barstool Sports hits back amid backlash over online sportsbook’s support for Pride month

    Barstool Sports hits back amid backlash over online sportsbook’s support for Pride month

    Published by Raw Story Barstool Sports is facing backlash over its support for Pride month, and the sports betting blog is hitting back, The Daily Beast reports. Barstool Sports, which in 2020 launched the Barstool Sportsbook …Read More »
Previous Post: « Movies: Dallas Buyers Club
Next Post: Apple CEO Tim Cook: Congress Should Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) »

Primary Sidebar

Adjacent News

  • 14 organizations that support LGBTQ+ tech workers

    14 organizations that support LGBTQ+ tech workers

  • Indiana mayor orders city remove social media posts celebrating Pride: report

    Indiana mayor orders city remove social media posts celebrating Pride: report

  • ‘Grotesque scaremongering’: Nikki Haley decried for blaming teen suicidal ideation on trans kids

    ‘Grotesque scaremongering’: Nikki Haley decried for blaming teen suicidal ideation on trans kids

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y'know

  • Elliot Page Shockingly Admits He had Secret Relationship With Kate Mara While She was Dating Max Minghelia

    Elliot Page Shockingly Admits He had Secret Relationship With Kate Mara While She was Dating Max Minghelia

  • VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Mark Indelicato & Vincent Rodriguez Discuss Being Gay Role Models In ‘With Love’

    VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Mark Indelicato & Vincent Rodriguez Discuss Being Gay Role Models In ‘With Love’

  • Britney Spears ‘Already Toned’ Down Her Tell-All Book ‘a Few Times,’ Says Insider: Pop Star Is ‘Annoyed at All the Delays’

    Britney Spears ‘Already Toned’ Down Her Tell-All Book ‘a Few Times,’ Says Insider: Pop Star Is ‘Annoyed at All the Delays’

Partner Links

  • 'Perry Mason' Canceled After 2 Seasons at HBO
  • Tallulah Willis Says Her Mom Demi Moore’s Marriage To Ashton Kutcher Sent Her Into A “Total Dumpster Fire”
  • Kim Cattrall Is On A Mission To Fight Off Aging “Every Way” She Can
  • OMG Stars: June 2023 Horoscopes
  • OMG, he’s naked: Alexis Quiroga goes full-frontal and rear in ‘Big Brother Argentina’

Most Recent

  • Jennifer Coolidge reveals ‘terrible mistake’ she made early on in her career

    Jennifer Coolidge reveals ‘terrible mistake’ she made early on in her career

  • Britney Spears Goes to Gym in Silk Dress and Heels With ‘Hot, Crazy Husband’ Sam Asghari

    Britney Spears Goes to Gym in Silk Dress and Heels With ‘Hot, Crazy Husband’ Sam Asghari

  • Study finds the political impact of marriage varies by sexual identity

    Study finds the political impact of marriage varies by sexual identity

  • ‘It’s great!’ Elliot Page talks dating since coming out as trans

    ‘It’s great!’ Elliot Page talks dating since coming out as trans

  • Barstool Sports hits back amid backlash over online sportsbook’s support for Pride month

    Barstool Sports hits back amid backlash over online sportsbook’s support for Pride month

  • Kelly Clarkson Looks Stunning in Pride-Themed, Makeup Free Video

    Kelly Clarkson Looks Stunning in Pride-Themed, Makeup Free Video

  • Andy Cohen Thanks Former Governor Andrew Cuomo for Having Daughter Lucy be ‘One of the First’ Gestational Surrogacies in New York

    Andy Cohen Thanks Former Governor Andrew Cuomo for Having Daughter Lucy be ‘One of the First’ Gestational Surrogacies in New York

  • Honor the past and celebrate the present with PRIDE | Opinion

    Honor the past and celebrate the present with PRIDE | Opinion

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

×