Maine gay marriage coalition launches new TV ad
The group spearheading the campaign seeking to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine has come out with a new television ad.
Mainers United for Marriage launched a 30-second ad Monday featuring a group of four volunteer firefighters, one of whom is gay, from York. In the ad, the firefighters talk about the bond that exists between first responders, whether they're straight or gay.
The ad will run for seven to 10 days in the Portland, Bangor and Presque Isle television markets.
Mainers United has now aired two commercials in support of the Nov. 6 ballot question that will ask voters if they want to legalize same-sex marriages. The Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders group has aired two more TV ads in support of the initiative.
--Associated Press
Group gives $250K to Maine gay marriage opponents
The National Organization for Marriage is pumping money into the campaign that opposes Maine's November ballot question seeking to legalize same-sex marriage.
Campaign manager Frank Schubert announced Thursday that the organization has given $250,000 to the Protect Marriage Maine political action committee, which is spearheading the campaign against the measure.
Schubert says the Maine election has national implications because the state could become the first where same-sex marriage is legalized in a popular vote.
Schubert's announcement came during a telephone conference call with gay marriage opponents.
Schubert says opponents in Maine so far have raised only $100,000 to $200,000. Same-sex marriage supporters say they expect to raise and spend $5 million or more.
--Associated Press
Maine judge hears arguments in transgender case
A Maine judge will decide whether a lawsuit filed by an Orono family over the school district's treatment of their transgender child's will go forward.
The Bangor Daily News reports that Justice William Anderson heard oral arguments on motions for summary judgments Wednesday.
The family and the Maine Human Rights Commission sued the district in November 2009. They are seeking damages, claiming the mother and identical twin boys were forced to move to Portland to find a more supportive school environment. The father remained in Orono.
Last year, Anderson dismissed a portion of the most controversial claim that administrators at Asa Adams School were obligated under the Maine Human Rights Act to allow the fifth-grade transgender child to use the girls bathroom.
A school district lawyer has denied all the allegations.
--Associated Press
