Queersetti
Bastardo Suave
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2003
- Posts
- 37,288
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
(Augusta, Maine) The largest Protestant denomination in Maine is telling voters to reject a ballot initiative that would void legal protections for gays and lesbians.
The Maine Conference United Church of Christ overwhelmingly passed the resolution at its annual meeting. The UCC has more than 23,000 members in Maine.
The law, enacted in March, protects gays, lesbians and the transgendered from discrimination in housing, employment and credit.
A conservative Christian group opposed to the law then gathered enough signatures to put a repeal measure on the November ballot.
The law was the third time a gay civil rights bill had been passed in Maine over the past decade. The Christian Civic League forced the issue on the ballot on the past two occasions and the laws were overturned. The most recent was in 2000.
All five other New England states already have legislation protecting LGBT civil rights.
In battling the current law the League has attempted to claim basic civil rights protections are the first step toward legalizing gay marriage. (story)
“All too often, opponents to Maine’s Anti-Discrimination Act are represented by faith-based groups whose theology includes a selective interpretation of the Bible with an emphasis on judgment and exclusion,” said Rev. Dale Holden of First Congregational Church UCC in Houlton. “The United Church of Christ actively opposes any effort to repeal Maine’s Anti-Discrimination Act, because discrimination is wrong and it hurts real people. No one should lose their jobs, be denied a mortgage or evicted from their homes simply because they are gay or believed to be gay.”
The United Church of Christ is the largest and oldest Protestant Christian tradition in Maine, tracing its roots to the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation.
Nationally, though, the UCC with 1.3 million members, is one of the smallest denominations.
On July 4 the Church's national synod voted in a non binding resolution to endorse same-sex marriage
Last year the UCC caused a stir in the growing marriage debate when it created a television advertising campaign that featured a gay couple, among others, being excluded from a church. CBS and NBC rejected the 30-second ads.
The 30-second commercial features two muscle-bound "bouncers" standing guard outside a picturesque church and selecting which persons are permitted to attend Sunday services. Written text interrupts the scene, announcing, "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we." A narrator then proclaims the United Church of Christ's commitment that: "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here."
©365Gay.com 2005
(Augusta, Maine) The largest Protestant denomination in Maine is telling voters to reject a ballot initiative that would void legal protections for gays and lesbians.
The Maine Conference United Church of Christ overwhelmingly passed the resolution at its annual meeting. The UCC has more than 23,000 members in Maine.
The law, enacted in March, protects gays, lesbians and the transgendered from discrimination in housing, employment and credit.
A conservative Christian group opposed to the law then gathered enough signatures to put a repeal measure on the November ballot.
The law was the third time a gay civil rights bill had been passed in Maine over the past decade. The Christian Civic League forced the issue on the ballot on the past two occasions and the laws were overturned. The most recent was in 2000.
All five other New England states already have legislation protecting LGBT civil rights.
In battling the current law the League has attempted to claim basic civil rights protections are the first step toward legalizing gay marriage. (story)
“All too often, opponents to Maine’s Anti-Discrimination Act are represented by faith-based groups whose theology includes a selective interpretation of the Bible with an emphasis on judgment and exclusion,” said Rev. Dale Holden of First Congregational Church UCC in Houlton. “The United Church of Christ actively opposes any effort to repeal Maine’s Anti-Discrimination Act, because discrimination is wrong and it hurts real people. No one should lose their jobs, be denied a mortgage or evicted from their homes simply because they are gay or believed to be gay.”
The United Church of Christ is the largest and oldest Protestant Christian tradition in Maine, tracing its roots to the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation.
Nationally, though, the UCC with 1.3 million members, is one of the smallest denominations.
On July 4 the Church's national synod voted in a non binding resolution to endorse same-sex marriage
Last year the UCC caused a stir in the growing marriage debate when it created a television advertising campaign that featured a gay couple, among others, being excluded from a church. CBS and NBC rejected the 30-second ads.
The 30-second commercial features two muscle-bound "bouncers" standing guard outside a picturesque church and selecting which persons are permitted to attend Sunday services. Written text interrupts the scene, announcing, "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we." A narrator then proclaims the United Church of Christ's commitment that: "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here."
©365Gay.com 2005
