Date: Sat, 11 Mar 1995 15:17:35 -0500 (EDT) From: paula@server.nlbbs.com (Paula Stockholm) SUPPORTERS TO HOLD OFF ON GAY RIGHTS BILL Portland (Maine) Press Herald March 10, 1995 Gay rights advocates said Thursday they will not submit a bill this year. Instead, they will wait until after voters decide on a referendum proposal seeking to bar protections for homosexuals. Sen. Dale McCormick, D-Monmouth, said legislative support has never been stronger for a bill to amend the Maine Human Rights Act to bar discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. But in the likely event it would pass said voters would have to choose between it and the initiated measure to curtail local gay rights laws. "I see no benefit to having two conflicting measures on the ballot," said McCormick. "It will only serve to confuse matters and it could result in no clear answer being reached despite a tremendous effort expected on both sides." Carolyn Cosby, the leader of Concerned Maine Families, which is leading the campaign for this fall's initiative, said gay rights activists are afraid to engage in a public debate preceding a statewide vote. "When it became clear to gay militants in the state that their proposal would have to go to the voters, they withdrew it," said Cosby. She called the gay rights' advocates decision "an absolute victory for us." "We're not dodging it," said McCormick. She and Patricia Ryan, executive director of the Maine Human Rights Commission, both said they are confident voters will reject the initiated bill in November. Ryan added that the advocates "absolutely" plan to introduce a gay rights bill during next year's session. Ryan added that they did not want to risk further confusing voters who must decide a complex referendum question. Cosby, predicting victory for her group's initiative in November, said such a law would torpedo chances for any gay-rights legislation. "I don't think you'll see any introduced if this passes," Cosby said. The Legislature in 1993 sent a gay rights bill to then-Gov. John R. McKernan, but he vetoed it. Gov. Angus King has said he would sign such a bill. The Maine Civil Liberties Union and the Boston-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders challenged the constitutionality of the proposal by Cosby's group in Kennebec County Superior Court in February. Cosby said the gay rights' advocates' announcement was an "admission that we are going to prevail in the courts." -- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Paula Stockholm Cumberland, Maine USA * * http://www.nlbbs.com/pms.htm * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *