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

Jack Antonoff, the drummer from the pop band fun., met with members of the Maine media this afternoon before the band took the stage at The State theater in Portland for a concert to raise money for Mainers United for Marriage.

The three-man band, which has had two major hits ("We Are Young" and "Some Nights"), have been outspoken proponents for gay rights and gay marriage. All three are straight, but say they want to make a real difference to advance gay rights.

"It's important for us to be really clear on the national level, it's important for us to be in Maine today raising money," Antonoff said during an interview in one of the cramped dressing rooms at the theater. "It's the most important issue of our generation. It's the civil rights issue of our generation. It's painful to exist in a place where Innocent people are treated as second class citizens."

The Halloween night show is the first of a new US tour, which will move on to college campuses after tonight. The band is donating all the proceeds from the Portland show to Mainers United, which is expected to give the Yes on 1 campaign a $25,000 plus boost with just six days to go until the election.

Antonoff, who is 28, said he doesn't think support or opposition to gay marriage is based on age.

"It fascinates and terrifies me," he said. "It's a religious issue. A lot of people in this country believe in the Bible that says certain things about homosexuality, which is what makes this really hard to turn around."

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