Campaign 2000

Civil-rights showdown

by Sam Smith

With only about two months to go until the 2000 election, the campaigns for and against Question 6, November's civil rights referendum, are putting on their public faces, taking their message to the streets. The referendum would grant equal rights to homosexuals in the state, although there were concessions made to certain religious organizations in exchange for their support. But don't worry, the opposition campaign has still been able to round up plenty of good-old-fashioned Christian zealots to help get out the word on the evils of the Gay Agenda.

The opposition, led by Maine's Christian Civic League and the Christian Coalition of Maine, are basing their operations out of the CCL's office space in Augusta. And helping to kick off their campaign on September 23 will be the "Premier Pro-Family Event in Maine," the Impact Maine Conference, featuring keynote speaker, homophobe, and Teletubbies activist Jerry Falwell.

Joining Falwell for a little religious fervor will be a cornucopia of the nation's pro-family wing nuts. From the DC-based Family Research Council "former lesbian" Yvette Schneider will offer testimony on the "myth of the gay gene." From Americans for Truth about Homosexuality comes Peter LaBarbera whose lecture is titled "The Homosexual Agenda in Schools: Using `Nondiscrimination' laws to Corrupt Youth." And Phil Burress, self-professed 25-year addict to pornography, will take on the evil triumvirate in a speech entitled simply "Gambling, Pornography, and Homosexuality."

"We are thrilled to be hosting such a talented team...," states the Christian Coalition's Paul Volle in a promotional brochure.

Proponents of the referendum, although not able to boast such a backwards-ass collection of supporters, will officially launch their campaign next Wednesday with news conferences around the state.

They will also unveil the "Equality Express," a mobile campaign office that will crisscross the state "giving people who are in favor of equal rights the opportunity to take part in a wonderful grassroots campaign," say Janette Fruen, manager for the Yes on 6 campaign.

Fruen says the campaign's focus will be on "building momentum in communities throughout the state," and keeping the issue of civil rights in people's minds during this cluttered season. They've even chosen a phone number for their campaign office, which opened in Saco at the end of last month, that will keep people thinking of Question 6: 282-8666. "Our ballot measure is measure 6, so we're repeating it as often as possible," Fruen explains.

And while it doesn't take a conference full of Jesus freaks to know those final three digits are shorthand for the Antichrist, the Number of the Beast, reached by phone for comment, Volle discounted the reference.

"They're not the Antichrist," he said. "The Antichrist would be smart enough not to advertise it like that."