---

Sunday, November 30, 1997

---

-----------------------------
    EDITORIAL
-----------------------------

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL

Maine still won't vote to discriminate

Voters shouldn't be apathetic about safeguarding the rights of homosexual people.

Excuse us for repeating ourselves, but the issue of equal rights for gay and lesbian citizens keeps coming back. As long as it does, those who believe in equal treatment for all have to keep coming back as well.

A statewide vote on whether to recall legislation extending Maine's human rights ordinance to homosexual people is nearly certain to be called. Justice Roland A. Cole ruled Nov. 21 that Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky correctly found enough valid signatures on the recall petition. Gov. King has set the date for the vote for Feb. 10.

For Maine voters, this will be the second time they've dealt with equal rights for gay and lesbian people at the polls in recent years. In 1995 voters turned down a citizen-initiated proposal to ban local ordinances protecting homosexual citizens. It also would have limited the state's civil rights code, having it apply only to to certain groups, with gay and lesbian people excluded.

Earlier this year, Maine's Legislature returned to the issue. After much emotional debate, it passed a law making it illegal to discriminate against people on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Opponents of granting equal rights have now brought the issue back, filing petitions for a statewide vote on whether to overturn the Legislature's decision to ban discrimination against gay and lesbian people.

With a recent poll suggesting 65 percent of Mainers would vote to keep the law banning discrimination against gay and lesbian people, we suspect many people are growing weary of this issue. How many times does Maine have to say it won't discriminate?

It's important to remember, however, the issue is as vital to the state today as it was two years ago. With voters weary, conditions are ripe for apathy. That would be a terrible mistake.

Maine needs laws protecting gay and lesbian citizens from discrimination. It can't afford to see people's talents on the job wasted because of their sexual orientation. It can't afford to let people be afraid to press criminal complaints for hate crimes because they fear being exposed for who they are.

Proponents of equal rights for all shouldn't let up just because they've won in the past or because poll numbers look favorable. Maine won't discriminate - provided the citizens committed to that ideal work hard in the upcoming campaign.