From: Hrccomm@aol.com Date: Tue, 7 Nov 1995 23:56:45 -0500 Subject: Maine Voters Reject Anti-Gay Ballot Measure _________________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: communications@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org _________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, November 7, 1995 MAINE VOTERS REJECT ANTI-GAY BALLOT MEASURE Extreme Right Groups Thwarted in Attempt to Mislead Voters With New Style of Discriminatory Initiative SEE FRONTPAGE STORY ON HRC'S WEBSITE http://www.hrcusa.org Portland, Maine -- Voters in Maine today rejected a discriminatory ballot measure that sought to forever deny basic rights to gay and lesbian Mainers. Question 1, the only anti-gay measure on a state ballot this year, was the first such initiative to appear on a state ballot east of the Rocky Mountains. Last year, voters in Idaho and Oregon rejected anti-gay measures. "Common sense and decency triumphed over extremism. Today's vote here in Maine is in keeping with the national trend. Americans are rejecting extremism," said Elizabeth Birch, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest national lesbian and gay political organization. "But we must put this campaign in perspective. While this was a wonderful victory, gay and lesbian citizens of Maine have not moved one step closer to having basic equal rights. Gay and lesbian people can still be fired from their jobs, even in Maine, merely for being gay." Birch noted that Maine is one of the 41 states that does not protect its citizens from discrimination based on sexual orientation, and that federal law also offers no such protection. The Human Rights Campaign sent eight staff members to Maine and provided major technical and financial assistance to Maine Won't Discriminate, the local coalition of religious, business, and community organizations that worked to defeat Question 1. The Human Rights Campaign is also the largest single financial contributor to the legal challenge against Colorado's Amendment 2, which is now before the U.S. Supreme Court. National extreme right groups actively pushed for a "yes" vote on Question 1. Bob Knight of the Family Research Council toured the state calling on voters to approve the measure, as did Beverly LaHaye of Concerned Women for America. Focus on the Family aired radio advertisements in favor of the initiative. Unlike earlier anti-gay measures, the language of Question 1 avoided mentioning lesbian and gay people. The question asked voters to limit "protected classifications" in current and future state and local laws to ten specific categories -- not including sexual orientation. The measure would have repealed two local non-discrimination laws that include gay people, and would have prohibited communities from passing such laws in the future. No federal or Maine state law protects people from being fired, refused work, or otherwise discriminated against merely for being lesbian or gay. Question 1 was written by Bruce Fein, a right-wing lawyer based in Virginia, to circumvent court decisions saying that gays should not be singled out for discrimination. The Human Rights Campaign, the country's largest national lesbian and gay political organization, envisions an America where lesbian and gay people are ensured of their basic equal rights -- and can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community. - 30 - Note: While the official vote tally will not be available until early Wednesday, November 8th, morning, At 11:28 p.m. EST, with 71 percent of the votes in and counted, the Portland NBC affiliate declared Question 1 defeated at 52-48. Earlier exit polls predicted the victory.