The latest shot in the political firefight over the state’s new gay rights law had its supporters crying foul Tuesday, objecting to a religious conservative group’s suggestion that Hurricane Katrina’s landfall near New Orleans might have deliberately coincided with a gay pride event in the city that day.

“By an odd coincidence – and it was perhaps no more than a coincidence – an enormous gay rights celebration was scheduled for New Orleans just as the worst natural disaster ever to strike our nation was venting its full fury on that helpless city,” reads the Sept. 6 online newsletter of the Christian Civic League of Maine, a group spearheading the “people’s veto” campaign aimed at overturning the new law.

The reference sparked outrage Tuesday from officials at Maine Won’t Discriminate, a group fighting the repeal effort. Jesse Connolly, the group’s spokesman, focused his criticism at the league’s executive director, Michael Heath.

“He’s using the worst natural disaster in U.S. history to try to score cheap political points,” Connolly said. “It absolutely blows my mind that he would be this desperate and stoop so low to appeal to his base.”

Repeated calls to Heath and other league officials, as well as officials with the league’s sister organization, the Coalition for Marriage, were not returned Tuesday.

On Nov. 8, Maine voters will consider ballot Question 1, which will read: “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?”

Supporters say the new law, which has been put on hold pending the outcome of the referendum, does nothing more than extend the state’s anti-discrimination statutes to homosexuals. Opponents contend it is designed to pave the way for gay marriage.

The law’s supporters note that it specifically states it does not sanction gay marriage while exempting religious organizations that do not receive state funds. Opponents say the language would not prevent judges from extending marriage rights to homosexuals.

Heath has been among the most outspoken opponents of so-called “gay rights” efforts and has been no stranger to controversy during his tenure at the Christian Civic League, particularly pertaining to the issue of homosexuality.

In March of last year, the league’s board of directors suspended Heath for 30 days for using the online newsletter to solicit “tips, rumors, speculation and facts” about the sexual orientation of state lawmakers and lobbyists.

Heath later apologized for the effort, which the league’s board determined “crossed a line of ethical behavior into a realm of sinful gossip.”

A few months later, however, in response to Gov. John Baldacci’s announcement that he would submit a gay rights bill to the Legislature, Heath drew more fire for wondering aloud, “Maybe the governor has one of these imaginary gay genes.” The league’s board characterized the comment as “tongue-in-cheek,” and took no action against Heath.

The governor’s communications director said Tuesday the Katrina reference marked “a new low” for Heath and his organization.

“I was hoping the Christian Civic League would do just the opposite and reach out to those people affected by Katrina,” said Lee Umphrey, who last year drew criticism himself from conservatives for calling a group of protesters against gay marriage “a collection of cuckoo clocks.”

If Tuesday’s exchange is any indication, the debate over extending the state’s anti-discrimination laws to gays and lesbians may be among the most contentious in recent years.

Maine voters have sent mixed messages on the issue during the past decade. In 1995, they soundly defeated an attempt to prohibit local governments from enacting gay rights ordinances. In 1998 and 2000, however, voters narrowly rejected attempts to protect homosexuals from discrimination.