Gay Rights

Today at 1pm, "An Act To Extend Civil Rights Protections to All People Regardless of Sexual Orientation" (LD 1196) will be heard by the Judiciary committee in room 438 of the State House.

Yesterday was a day of lobbying from both supporters and opponents, as the Christian Civic League and Equality Maine held press conferences and rallied supporters in Augusta. Only one of those groups will be at the hearing today, however. The League has announced that it will not testify against the bill, calling the entire proceeding a "mockery of the principles of our form of government".

The fact that the CCL has given up is a sign that the bill will pass the legislature. The real battle will now be their campaign for a "people's veto". It will be interesting to see if the Christian Coalition will once again bankroll their efforts.

Maine's Catholic Bishop Richard Malone made an announcement yesterday that the diocese will remain neutral and neither support nor oppose the anti-discrimination legislation.

[update] The Judiciary committee has switched to room 208, so click here to hear the audio.

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