Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

Mike Heath and Paul Madore, two men who've been fighting against gay rights for decades, are holding a State House press conference Monday where they promise to "turn up the heat" just a week before Mainers vote on gay marriage.

"It's been years since we've had the opportunity to inform Maine voters about the real dangers and the pure insanity of same-sex sodomy based marriage," Heath is quoted in a press release.

Heath, who resigned as executive director of the Christian Civic League just before the 2009 vote on gay marriage, was shunned by gay marriage opponents last time around because they wanted to take a less aggressive approach. Neither he nor Madore, a Lewiston-area Catholic, have been publicly active this time around, at least not before Monday's rally and press conference.

In their press announcement, they say they want to spell out will happen in Maine if "this insane bill passes."

"You can't expect to win this campaign and protect Maine families from the evil of same-sex marriage if you intend to use the same language as the other side," Madore said.

And Heath added: "We have to turn up the heat and be bold and honest and we are prepared to do just that."

The Hall of Flags press conference sounds similar to one they held in 2009 just before the vote. They are bringing back the same speakers -- Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality and Brian Camenker of Mass Resistance, a Massachusetts anti-gay group.

In 2009, both sides of the campaign denounced the comments from the press conference, which focused on the "radical homosexual agenda."

About the Author

Subscribe to the
Open Season RSS

Open Season targets all of Maine's political wildlife, from Portland city government to the donkeys, elephants and independents stalking the Statehouse and U.S. Capitol.

John Richardson joined the Press Herald in 1990 after working as a reporter in New Jersey. He has covered a variety of beats, including marine issues, the environment and health care. He is now covering politics and focusing on Maine's U.S. Senate race.
John can be reached at 791-6324 or jrichardson@pressherald.com
On Twitter: @jrichmaine

Colin Woodard has covered politics and elections for more than two decades, from Bosnia and Bucharest to Washington, D.C., Augusta, and Portland City Hall. He has written for a wide range of national and international publications and is the author of four books, including "American Nations," a history of North America's regional cultures. He joined the Portland Press Herald at the end of April and covers political finance and lobbying, among other things.
Colin can be reached at 791-6317 or cwoodard@pressherald.com

Susan Cover has covered Maine politics for 10 years and worked in Kansas, Ohio and Rhode Island as a reporter. This year, she is focusing on covering the same-sex marriage debate for MaineToday Media.
Susan can be reached at 621-5643 or scover@mainetoday.com

Michael Shepherd joined MaineToday Media in May 2012 after graduating from the University of Maine in Orono, where he edited The Maine Campus, the student newspaper there. Until November he'll be writing the Truth Test, a recurring feature analyzing political statements and advertising.
Michael can be reached at 621-5632 or mshepherd@mainetoday.com

Subscribe to the
Open Season RSS

Previous entries