State of Maine Archives: on Civil Rights

Sara Gideon: Support LGBTQ+ people everywhere

Sara Gideon: Yes. Calls for "supporting LGBTQ+ people everywhere." Opposed Trump judicial nominee Lawrence Van Dyke because of his opposition to marriage equality.

Susan Collins: Yes. Supported same-sex marriage before Supreme Court decision. Supported same-sex veterans' benefits. Opposed Trump judicial nominee over record on gay rights.

Sara Gideon: Husband solicited to run for town council; she ran instead

Gideon: I think a number of reasons. I think many of us have been in this position where the men around us, in our lives or in our workplace, are approached for things before we as women are. And this was one of those cases. For me it was really a call to action, of, "This is the role that I should be playing in the world and a place I can make a difference."

Betsy Sweet: Equal pay for women; plus commission on racial justice

• Support Equal Pay for Equal Work for women and minorities.
• Establish a Commission on Racial Justice and Equality to lead state government in analyzing policies, practices and procedures that result in income, health care, aspirational disparities. then institute the changes necessary for correction.
• Support the Civil Rights Team Project in our schools to take on the issues of fairness, respect, bullying and harassment in their day-to-day lives.

Eric Brakey: Leave transgender bathroom policy up to local school board

Eric Brakey: Support. "All should have the right to practice their religious beliefs as they choose."

Q: Do you support or oppose the withdrawal of federal funds for public schools that fail to comply with the Obama administration's bathroom policy for transgender students?

Eric Brakey: Oppose. "This should be the decision of local school boards, not the White House."

Janet Mills: Proud that Maine was first to vote for gay marriage

Mills: Yes. Proud that ME voters were first state to approve marriage equality at the ballot box.

Moody: Not personally. "Marriage is one man & one woman." Opposed marriage equality law, but in 2010 campaign, said he would "respect the will of voters."

Shawn Moody: Marriage is one man & one woman, but respect will of voters

Mills: Yes. Proud that ME voters were first state to approve marriage equality at the ballot box.

Moody: Not personally. "Marriage is one man & one woman." Opposed marriage equality law, but in 2010 campaign, said he would "respect the will of voters."

Zak Ringelstein: People have the right to love who they want

Brakey: No position found.

King: Yes. "Fundamental human right."

Ringelstein: Yes. "People have the right to love who they want."

Zak Ringelstein: Supports women's rights and equal pay for equal work

Chris Lyons: Education will achieve affirmative action, not law

A: This basic principle sums this question up readily; nobody is more than or less than another for whatever reason except their actions towards others. Whether public or private organizations, they would lose if they dismiss the 'best' person for the job whether they are a woman or a minority or a male or a Caucasian. Discrimination is discrimination without exception. History has proven at least two realities on this topic; it was without question wrong to institutionally keep women and minorities 'below' the law. Disgraceful. The second is history has proven why it was wrong. Woman and minorities have more than proved themselves more than capable.

Q: So what should the law be?

A: It is education and its exposure of these manifest wrongs that have almost eliminated any ignorant bias towards one gender or racial group, not law. The best person for the job regardless of anything. Law will never change this. Education will.

Chris Lyons: Government should have no say on same-sex marriage

A: As with must hot button topics, they are used and manipulated by the two big parties to win the next election. I think it is far more proactive to ask, what authority does the federal government or state government has to decide what marriage is? Seems to me, marriage, was historically, a religious mandate. Therefore, under the concept of the separation between state and religion, marriage should be defined as a voluntary action by two people within the scope of that religion and the contract between two people, voluntarily, as a civil union is acceptable to the state whether marriage or a civil union. In a sense, this is also a gay question and how would I react to 'gay' as an elected representative of the people? The answer is easy. I won't. One way or the other.

Chris Lyons: Comfortable with same-sex marriage

A: support

Paul LePage: Confederate monuments are about a war for land

"What was the war? If you really truly read and study the Civil War, it was turned into a battle for the slaves, but initially--7,600 Mainers fought for the Confederacy," LePage said in an interview with Maine radio station WVOM. "And they fought because, as farmers, they were concerned about their land. Their property. It was a property rights issue as it began. The President really made it about slavery to a great degree."

Slaves were considered property up to and during the Civil War. LePage also said that removing confederate monuments could lead to the removal of history books and monuments to the Oklahoma City bombing and the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Two Civil War historians disputed LePage's assertions, noting that the Civil War "was rooted in racial slavery" where "slaves were the property at issue," not land.

Janet Mills: Decries proposal to eliminate Civil Rights Funding

Eliot Cutler: Worked to uphold a law legalizing same-sex marriage

A Cutler spokeswoman issued a statement contrasting the independent's history supporting gay rights with Michaud's background on the issue:

"Eliot Cutler and his family have stood side by side with the LGBT community for decades as outspoken advocates and supporters. Mike Michaud's voting record in the Maine Legislature--19 consecutive votes against equal rights for the LGBT community--speaks for itself."

Michaud's campaign says Michaud, like many politicians, has evolved on the issues over time.

Mike Michaud: Would be 1st openly gay governor; but evolved on LGBT rights

A Cutler spokeswoman said, "Mike Michaud's voting record in the Maine Legislature--19 consecutive votes against equal rights for the LGBT community--speaks for itself."

Michaud's campaign has downplayed the lawmaker's record in the Maine Legislature, saying he, like many politicians, has evolved on the issues over time. Staffers point to his record in D.C., where he has earned a near-perfect approval rating from the Human Rights Campaign for his votes on issues of LGBT equality.

Eliot Cutler: Early and vocal supporter of Maine's marriage equality

Charlie Summers: Marriage is between a man and a woman

Angus King: Supports gay marriage

But he insists that he has conservative values when it comes to fiscal responsibility. "I think you should have a 'pay-as-you-go' system,'' he said.

Charlie Summers: No same-sex marriage; defined by Constitutional Amendment

A: No.

Q: Do you support a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman?

A: Yes.

Charlie Summers: Affirmative action ok, but not in contracting decisions

A: No.

Q: Should the federal government continue affirmative action programs?

A: Yes.

Q:

Matt Dunlap: Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws

Dunlap indicates support for the following principles concerning employment.
• Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
• Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding or relocating businesses.
• Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
• Include sexual orientation in Maine's anti-discrimination laws.

Matt Dunlap: Affirmative action ok, but not on state contracts

A: No.

Q: Public employment?

A: Yes.

Q: State contracting?

A: No.