Maine’s “Unneeded” Law Protecting Gays & Lesbians

Here in Maine, we’re getting ready to vote on whether or not to keep a newly passed law that will protect the rights of fellow Mainers based on their sexuality or preceived sexuality.

First of all, I think Question 1 is worded strangely — possibly to confuse voters as to what exactly they are voting for.

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?

The important thing to note is that a “yes” vote would repeal the law and a “no” vote will keep it on the books. Oh, and the law defines sexual orientation as “a person’s actual or perceived hetrosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality or gender identity or epression.” Repealing the law would mean that whether or not you are a gay or lesbian or bisexual or hetrosexual, it will not be against the law for someone to judge you based on their impression of you and fire you, harrass you, deny you an apartment or a hotel room, or even enrollment in a university based on their personal judgement of you.

Get that? The discrimination is legal even if the boss or landlord just imagines you might be “a little light in your loafers” for his taste.

Last Sunday’s Maine Sunday Telegram had a couple of front page articles on the subject since the vote is a hop, skip, and a jump away, and there was something in the one titled “Grievances unlikely to surge if Maine gay rights law upheld” that has been nagging at me. Actually, it’s the subheader that’s been nagging at me — you know, that place between the headline and the byline (Mark Peters, by the way)?

Critics say a lack of filings in other states proves the law isn’t needed here.

So, I’ve been wondering why it is that the law isn’t needed?

Is it because no one in Maine discriminates based on sexuality? Are we such an openminded Blue state liberal community that we would never ever have an incident where this might occur?

And if that’s the case, if it’s not needed because no one would do it, what’s the harm of leaving it on the books? Why spent all this time and money petitioning to have a repeal option be put on the November ballot and advertising about what a bad idea it is? If it’s so unneeded then leaving it won’t harm anyone because it’ll never come up in a court case, right?

Some opponents of the state law say there isn’t evidence gays and lesbians face discrimination in Maine.

“I don’t discriminated against them, and I don’t see how other people do,” said Jill Taylor, an opponent of the law who collected signatures to help force the Novemeber vote.

The stay-at-home mom in Buxton fears that passage of the gay rights law will further erode the freedom of Christians to speak openly about their faith.

Wow, that’s mind-boggling. I mean, I don’t think there’s anything in that law that says that Christians (of which I am one) can’t speak openly about their faith. It just says that they can’t judge others and discriminate against them because of their faith.

discriminate

to make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit; especially : to make a difference in treatment on a basis prohibited by law (as national origin, race, sex, religion, age, or disability)

You know, I’m fairly sure that God would approve of such a law. Remember, Jesus loved all the children; he never said don’t love if they are a different race or a different sexuality or a different religion. Oh, he didn’t say you have to love them, but I’m fairly certain that hate is a pretty un-Jesus-y thing to do. Oh sure, you aren’t supposed to love the sin, but then we’re all sinners. None of us but Jesus are above sinning. Of course, whatever choices anyone makes in this life that doesn’t actually harm anyone else really is between that person and God in my opinion. I don’t think you get moved up to the front of the line to the Heavenly Gates because you were more disapproving of sin than others.

Just my 2¢ whatever they’re worth.

If you’re wondering, I’ll be voting “no” on Novemeber 8th. It just seems like the Christian thing to do.

Source: Maine Sunday Tribune, October 16, 2005.
Recommended Reading: Maine Won’t Discriminate

tags: politics, Maine, vote, Gay Rights, Christian bigotry

One comment

1. on October 22, 2005 at 3:13 pm

   Tamara said:

   Oy. Some of these arguments are baffling. She can’t express herself by saying what, exactly? All it says she can’t do is discriminate, and she claims she doesn’t. So what’s the problem?

   Good luck!

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