Civil rights protect us all.

I want to commend the governor and the bipartisan legislators who struck a blow for freedom and fairness in Maine by passing the recent civil rights law extending legal protections to people faced with discrimination based on sexual orientation. Maine is the last New England state to pass such a bill.

With the passage of this civil rights bill, the Maine Human Rights Commission will be empowered to investigate and act on cases of discrimination targeting gay and transgendered people, just as others are protected from discrimination based on age, race, color, sex, marital status, ancestry, religion and national origin.

In a society that values freedom, justice and fairness so highly, it is our duty to make sure all people are protected equally. If any one group of people is discriminated against, we all lose freedom.

Robert J. Gibson, Lewiston