Maine conservatives fighting to put gay ‘behavior…back in the closet’
Michael Heath, former head of the Christian Civic League of Maine, wants to strip LGBT protections from the Maine Human Rights Act.
“There is conduct that ought to be punished, and Christianity teaches, has always taught and still does teach, that sodomy is such a behavior,” Heath said.
Heath has formed a new group, “Equal Rights, Not Special Rights,” to collect signatures in hopes of removing LGBT protections from state law.
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“If it’s removed, what does it do?” Heath said. “It very simply moves something, a behavior that belongs in the closet back into the closet.”
If they’re successful, Heath and other anti-LGBT activists hope to impose legal bans on homosexual behavior.
“There’s an open expression of homosexuality and sexual expression that is totally out of line for a country as great as the United States of America,” said Paul Madore, an activist who described his disgust at seeing a U.S. serviceman express his affection for a same-sex partner.
The executive director of EqualityMaine said the group’s efforts were troubling — but ultimately a waste of time.
“They think they can force people to accept their world view,” said civil rights activist Matt Moonen said. “That’s just not what America is, not what the State of Maine is — and it’s not going to work.”
If the group collects enough signatures, the issue could be placed before voters next year.
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