Civil Rights in Maine--SFNE

The real news today is from our neighbor to the north. (No--not Canada.) Congratulations to the people of Maine for roundly defeating an attempt to repeal its newly enacted Human Rights Law. From the Globe:

The issue, put before voters for the third time since 1998, pitted a coalition of mainstream religious and business groups and politicians, including Governor John Baldacci, against a network of Christian church groups that sees gay rights as an assault on traditional marriage.

The vote was a referendum on the law, enacted earlier this year, to amend the Maine Human Rights Act by making discrimination illegal in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and education based on sexual orientation.

The Maine law had prohibited discrimination based on race, color, sex, disability, religion, ancestry, and national origin. The gay-rights provision was broadly worded to protect transsexuals, transvestites, and those who have undergone sexual reassignment surgery, in addition to gays.

The law exempts religious organizations that do not receive public funds. It also is worded to say it is not meant to address a right to marry. The law had been put on hold pending the outcome of the balloting.

This vote makes Maine the last state in New England to protect the legal rights of gays. Wicked good!