Homosexual Welfare Bill Awaits Governor's Signature

After four months of intense lobbying, the Maine Legislature voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill on May 23 and 24 that will extend significant employment benefits to homosexuals.  The bill, LD 375 "An Act To Amend the Family Medical Leave Laws," was sponsored by Senator Dennis Damon of Hancock County, and co-sponsored by nine other legislators.

The bill has been this session's legislative priority for the Maine homosexual lobby, led by homosexual lobbying groups EqualityMaine, the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the Maine Women's Lobby, and the Maine Civil Liberties Union.  All four groups submitted written public testimony at the bill's February 28 public hearing before the Labor Committee.

The bill will add a formal definition of "domestic partner" to the Maine state statutes.  "Domestic partner" is clearly defined in the bill as a partner of an employee who "...has been legally domiciled with the employee for at least 12 months, is not legally married to or legally separated from another individual, is the sole partner of the employee and expects to remain so, is not a sibling of the employee, and is jointly responsible with the employee for each other's common welfare as evidenced by joint living arrangements, joint financial arrangements or joint ownership of real or personal property."

If homosexual couples meet the 'domestic partner' definition requirements, they will be granted up to ten weeks of leave from their employment under Maine's current Family Medical Leave laws.   

After the public hearing, the Labor Committee did not vote on the bill for almost three months.  During that time, an amendment was offered, and ultimately approved, by the committee.  The amendment specifically excluded siblings as part of the domestic partner definition. 

The original wording of the bill was supported by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland (ME) due to the possibility of siblings being awarded these benefits.  According to Diocese spokesman Marc Mutty in a Maine Public Broadcasting radio interview, the Catholic Church's initial support of this bill was on the grounds of "compassion" and social justice. 

It is unknown if the Diocese withdrew its support from the bill after the April amendment, which seemingly undercut the Diocese's position for supporting the benefits expansion.  Mutty did not respond to recent repeated League requests for comment on this bill.

The Labor Committee voted for the bill's passage by a 9-3 vote, and the Senate quickly voted for the bill's passage as well by a voice vote only.  No roll call vote was taken by the Senate.  The next day, the House voted 95-41 to pass the homosexual welfare bill, with 14 members absent.  None of the absences were excused.

The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor Baldacci as soon as early June.

There were five pro-family Democrat Representatives who voted against their party and the Maine homosexual lobby by opposing this bill:  Beaudette of Biddeford, Clark of Millinocket, Cleary of Houlton, Lundeen of Mars Hill, and Samson of Lewiston/Auburn.  There were 36 pro-family Republican Representatives (listed below) who upheld their party platform and rejected the desires of Maine's homosexual lobby by opposing this bill.

There were 17 Republican Representatives who voted with Maine's homosexual lobby in favor of this bill:  Beaulieu (R-Auburn), Browne (R-Vassalboro), Campbell (R-Newfield), Duprey (R-Hampden), Finley (R-Skowhegan), Flood (R-Winthrop), Gould (R-South Berwick), Greeley (R-Levant), Moore (R-Standish), Muse (R-Fryeburg), Nass (R-Acton), Rector (R-Thomaston), Richardson (R-Carmel), Robinson (R-Raymond), Rosen (R-Bucksport), Tardy (R-Newport), and Walker (R-Lincolnville).

There were 78 Democrat Representatives who, in keeping with their anti-family party platform, voted with Maine's homosexual lobby in favor of this bill.

Click here to post your comments. 

Pro-Family Representatives Who Deserve Our Appreciation

 

	ANNIS  (R-Dover-Foxcroft)
	AUSTIN  (R-Gray)
	AYOTTE  (R-Caswell)
	BEAUDETTE  (D-Biddeford)
	CEBRA  (R-Naples)
	CHASE  (R-Wells)
	CLARK  (D-Millinocket)
	CLEARY  (D-Houlton)
	COTTA  (R-South China)
	CRAY  (R-Palmyra)
	CROSTHWAITE  (R-Ellsworth)
	CURTIS  (R-Madison)
	EDGECOMB  (R-Caribou)
	FITTS  (R-Pittsfield)
	FLETCHER  (R-Winslow)
	GILES  (R-Belfast)
	HAMPER  (R-Oxford)
	HOTHAM  (R-Dixfield)
	JACOBSEN  (R-Waterboro)
	JOY  (R-Crystal)
	KNIGHT  (R-Livermore Falls)
	LANSLEY  (R-Sabattus)
	LEWIN  (R-Eliot)
	LUNDEEN  (D-Mars Hill)
	MAREAN  (R-Hollis)
	McDONOUGH  (R-Scarborough)
	McFADDEN  (R-Dennysville)
	McKANE  (R-Newcastle)
	McLEOD  (R-Lee)
	PINKHAM  (R-Lexington Township)
	PLUMMER  (R-Windham)
	PRESCOTT  (R-Topsham)
	RICHARDSON  (R-Warren)
	SAMSON  (D-Auburn)
	STRANG BURGESS (R-Cumberland)
	SYKES  (R-Harrison)
	THIBODEAU  (R-Winterport)
	THOMAS  (R-Ripley)
	TIBBETTS  (R-Columbia)
	VAUGHAN  (R-Durham)
	WEAVER  (R-York)

Send us feedback on this page by clicking here
© Copyright by Christian Civic League of Maine.  All rights reserved.

Top of Page