Imagine if you could not practice your religion of choice freely without risking losing your job or your home. What would that be like for you?

There are Christians in this world who do not have that freedom to practice their religion of choice. They live with secrets, fear and threats of violence. Sometimes, they are killed because they are Christians.

In this country, I go to church without fear. In part, this is because Maine law says that I cannot be denied employment, housing or credit because I am a Christian. In part, this is because Christians here are not rejected, beaten and killed just because they are Christians.

However, if I were a gay man here, I would live in fear. I wouldn’t tell my boss or my landlord or my banker. I wouldn’t tell anyone until I was sure they wouldn’t reject me or hurt me and that they would keep my secret.

There are those who say that gay folks make the choice to be gay and therefore shouldn’t have this protection under the law. Tell that to the Christians around the world who can’t publicly identify as Christians. Tell them that they are free to choose an accepted religion instead of one that is outlawed.

As a heterosexual Christian, I am going to vote no on Nov. 8. As we should speak out for Christians around the world, we should speak out for our gay neighbors here in Maine.

Michael Newsom, South Paris