'People's Veto' Sought Over Maine's Homosexual-Rights Bill
by Chad Groening
September 27, 2005
(AgapePress) - The Christian Civic League of Maine hopes voters in that state will once again nullify a bill passed by the legislature and signed by the governor that gives special rights to homosexuals. This is the third time voters are being called on to stop similar legislation.
The last time Maine voters said no to special rights for homosexuals was in 1998. But now the state's liberal governor and legislature have once again crafted a bill that will give special rights to homosexual men and women. LD 1196 -- "An Act To Extend Civil Rights Protections to All People Regardless of Sexual Orientation" -- forbids the denial of rights in employment, housing, public accommodations,
credit, and education opportunity to individuals based on their "sexual orientation." The bill defines sexual orientation as "a person's actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality or gender identity or expression."
Tim Russell, the legislative liaison for the League, says the state's voters will have to use the "people's veto" once again on November 8. He explains that his organization, along with the Maine Grassroots Coalition, gathered the required number of signatures to get the veto measure before the voters.
"[The signatures] were verified by the Secretary of State," Russell says. "This allows the repeal of this law to be placed on this November election ballot."
According to Russell, if the bill is not vetoed, it will pave the way for homosexual "marriage" in the state of Maine. He explains his reasoning.
"All that has to happen is a suit [to be] brought ... especially if you have special rights for homosexuals within your human rights law," he explains. "They take it before a judge and a judge says you can't deny them the same rights as a married couple because you have already within your laws these special rights for homosexuals."
The Civic League spokesman contends lawmakers in his state eventually want to see same-sex marriage legalized.
"The governor, in fact, said that he was for homosexual marriage -- but just not now," Russell says. "This highlights the fact that they need this law on the books to make it an easier trip through the legal system." He adds that it is clear that if the law is passed -- and with the presence of a liberal judiciary -- it is "a matter of just bringing suit and letting the judiciary declare homosexual marriage legal in Maine."
Russell believes the governor's and legislature's preference would be for exactly that to happen. And he believes the courts would legalize homosexual marriage despite the fact that a Defense of Marriage Act is already on the books in Maine.
Chad Groening, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
