Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud, who served 11 terms in the Legislature — seven in the House and four in the Senate — has an evolving record on gay rights legislation.
After early opposition to gay rights issues, he softened his stance by voting to send the matter out to referendum and later sponsoring legislation to allow domestic partners of state employees to receive health benefits under the state plan.
In 2004, Michaud said “yes,” when asked by Project Vote Smart if marriage should be limited to one man and one woman. He also said “yes” to allowing civil unions for gay couples. In 2004, he voted against a constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage and in 2006, he opposed another attempt at a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman.
In 2007, Michaud voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which made it illegal for employers to make hiring decisions based on sexual orientation, even though he was one of the bill’s co-sponsors. Michaud said at the time that he opposed the act because it was not inclusive enough, specifically because it did not protect transgender people.
“The bill that the House of Representatives ultimately voted on fell short of what a majority of Mainers voted for in November of 2005,” said Michaud at the time, referring to a citizen-initiated statewide referendum that preserved the Maine Human Rights Act, versions of which had been vetoed in 1993 and repealed by referendum in 1998 and 2000.
“I heard from a lot of my constituents on this issue and just couldn’t support a bill that doesn’t live up to the non-discrimination protections of our state,” said Michaud.
In 2012, when 52.6 percent of Maine voters approved same-sex marriage, Michaud said he supported the measure.
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