Language OK’d for gay rights repeal question

AUGUSTA – A proposal to repeal Maine’s recently enacted gay rights legislation is ready for circulation by petitioners opposed to the pending law, state elections officials indicated Wednesday.

If anti-gay rights referendum organizers gather sufficient petition signatures by June 28, statewide voters would be asked: “Do you want to reject the new law that would protect people from discrimination in employment, housing, education, public accommodations and credit based on their sexual orientation?”

Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn wrote to Michael Heath, executive director of the Maine Christian Civic League, on Wednesday, detailing the ballot question language being suggested. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said the group has accepted the wording of the question.

State elections officials said a petition form for referendum advocates would be ready by Thursday morning at the latest.

To put the question before state voters, referendum advocates must obtain at least 50,519 certified signatures, representing 10 percent of the votes cast for governor in 2002.

State elections officials would have 30 days from the June 28 submission deadline, which is 90 days after the Legislature’s recent adjournment of its 2005 regular session, to certify the petitions.

If petitions are certified by July 28, the proposed question would appear on ballots on Nov. 8, state elections officials said.

The law, which received final House and Senate passage a week ago, would amend the Maine Human Rights Act by making discrimination illegal in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and education based on sexual orientation or gender. Maine law now prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, disability, religion, ancestry and national origin.

The new law would exempt religious organizations that do not receive public funds.

As he signed the bill, Gov. John Baldacci said, “this act not only offers essential civil rights, but serves as a welcome. … Our doors are open to all people. This is a proud day for Maine.”

The Christian Civic League of Maine, which said it would fight the pending law, participated in successful referendum campaigns in 1998 and 2000 that rejected earlier gay rights measures.

Heath has set a goal of collecting 70,000 signatures, as well as $2 million to wage a referendum campaign.

“In a perfect world I would wish for better language” for a ballot question, Heath said Wednesday. But given at least in part a necessity to move forward, “there’s just not enough there to object to,” he said.

One element critics of the pending law would like to highlight, he said, is what they see as its potential for serving as a foundation for “a court challenge against traditional marriage,” Heath said.

The enacted legislation includes language declaring that the measure is not meant to address a right to marry.

An organization known as Maine Won’t Discriminate announced it will undertake a statewide campaign to defend the gay rights measure.

“We want to ensure that the resounding legislative victory from last week remains law in Maine,” spokeswoman Patricia Peard said in a statement.