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Gay Civil
Rights Law
Comes
Into Force In Maine
by
365Gay.com December 28, 2005
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Augusta, Maine -- A law that
provides human rights protections for Maine's LGBT community from discrimination
in housing, employment and credit takes effect today.
It makes Maine the last state in New England to ban discrimination against gays
and lesbians and the first to specifically cover the transgendered.
LGBT civil rights advocates who fought for 30 years to get the law in place say
they are not planning special events to mark the new law.
Under the civil rights law the Maine Human Rights Commission has the power to
investigate bias complaints.
The legislature had approved the legislation and it was signed by Governor John
Baldacci in March but put on hold when the Christian Civic League of Maine began
a repeal effort. The group gathered enough signatures to force the issue
onto the ballot.
The league has forced referenda on similar bills three times in the past decade
and gays have seen the protections erased at the polls each time until this
year.
The League also said it does not plan to mark the inauguration of the law today.
"We are deeply saddened this law passed and we will look for the first
opportunity to repeal it," a spokesperson said. The group says it now will
concentrate on getting a proposed amendment banning same-sex marriage put to
voters.
The state's largest LGBT rights organization said it hopes the new law will
encourage gays to remain in Maine.
"There are those who grew up here who would consider staying here, but didn't
stay because there simply was no statewide law to protect them," said Betsy
Smith of Equality Maine.
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