The June 29 article, “Gay rights battle looms,” brought one truth sharply into focus: Maine has reached a critical point in the ongoing struggle for civil rights.

The Maine Grassroots Coalition and the Christian Civic League of Maine have gathered over 57,000 signatures which, if verified, would halt Maine’s new gay-rights law and force a vote on the law this November. I was shocked and dismayed to read that Susan Madore, a supporter of the MGC, had called this turn of events “a miracle.”

A miracle? To block a law that protects homosexuals from discrimination in housing, employment and education is a tragedy. I understand that many people disagree with gay marriage on a personal or religious level and believe that the law would further the possibility that Maine will legalize same-sex marriages. But to deny individuals the right to an equal education, to equal employment, to equal housing opportunity, based solely on their sexual orientation, is a crime. Let us not make the same mistake this nation did in failing to protect African-Americans from similar discrimination for so many decades after the abolition of slavery.

I applaud the Maine Council of Churches for their belief in love, compassion and equality for all humanity, and hope that they, along with the Chamber of Commerce and the Maine Won’t Discriminate Campaign, can rally the citizens of Maine to step up and help win the civil rights battle for the supporters of reason and justice.

Adam W. Gould, Auburn

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