Politics makes strange bedfellows. Partisans often come together with rivals to pass meaningful legislation.

In the United States Senate, no odder pair than Massachusetts uber-liberal Ted Kennedy has worked so well with arch-conservative Orrin Hatch from Utah that the latter wrote a song about the former.

On some issues, however, if you walk with the ducks, you end up with mud on your feet.

Two groups hoping to put their own referendum question on upcoming ballots have paid the Maine Grassroots Coalition, led by Lewiston’s Paul Madore, to collect signatures. The coalition is also one of the leading – and most vocal – supporters of an effort to repeal Maine’s new anti-discrimination laws.

The law adds sexual orientation to the Maine Human Rights Act and protects gays, lesbians and transgender individuals from being discriminated against in housing, employment, credit and education. The law is long overdue and finally makes it illegal to discriminate against a person based on their sexual orientation.

Both groups – No Slots for ME! and TABOR, which supports a so-called Taxpayers Bill of Rights – say they have taken no position on the attempt to repeal the anti-discrimination law.

Similarly, the College Republicans at the University of Maine at Farmington and at the University of Southern Maine have sponsored appearances by Michael Heath, the executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine. Heath wrongly maintains that the anti-discrimination law would pave the way for same-sex marriage in the state, and has tried to rally opposition for its repeal. The Republican groups have said they aren’t taking a stance, only trying to present a conservative point of view on liberal campuses.

It’s shameful that Maine still allows the legal discrimination based on sexual orientation, and it’s shameful that the Maine Grassroots Coalition and the Christian Civic League would use their influence to try to force homosexuals to live a closeted and secret life for fear of losing their jobs or homes.

When November’s election is over – and, one hopes, Question 1 rejected – the people who have stood against equal rights and the groups that have supported them, either tacitly or explicitly, will be judged by their actions and their inaction.

Much can be forgiven when politics creates uncomfortable alliances, but trading away people’s rights is a sorry bargain for political expediency.