Susan Collins’ Flailing Campaign Embraces Far-Right Anti-LGBTQ Extremist Group

by HRC Staff •

The Maine Beacon reported that anti-LGBTQ extremist Christian Civic League of Maine endorsed Susan Collins’ bid for reelection - an endorsement for which she said she was “truly grateful.” In response, Human Rights Campaign Spokesperson Lucas Acosta issued the following statement:

Embracing an extremist anti-LGBTQ group’s endorsement is nothing less than opportunistic in the waning days of this campaign. After years of being an independent voice for Mainers and advocating for the LGBTQ community, Collins has again chosen to pander to the far-right rather than stand by the principles she professed for years.

It is impossible to reconcile welcoming the endorsement of an organization that sought to out Maine legislators, opposes marriage equality and that actively demeans and attacks transgender children with Collins’ previously expressed views. LGBTQ Mainers and our allies need a true advocate like Sara Gideon in the Senate, a leader who puts our well-being ahead of what’s politically expedient.

Lucas Acosta, Human Rights Campaign Deputy Communications Director, Politics

BACKGROUND

According to the Maine Beacon:

“The League has a long history of anti-LGBTQ activism. In addition to running anti-same-sex marriage referendum campaigns in 2009 and 2013, the group successfully worked to pass referendums in 1998 and 2000 denying basic anti-discrimination protections to gay and lesbian Mainers. It lost a referendum campaign on the same issue in 2005.

“In 2004, the League sought “tips, rumors, speculation and facts” about the sexual orientation of Maine legislators, hoping to out gay political figures.”

After endorsing Collins’ 3 previous bids for Senate, HRC endorsed Sara Gideon in July the day after she successfully earned the Democratic nomination. Susan Collins currently serves as the sole Republican sponsor of the Equality Act, crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit protections for LGBTQ people under our nation's existing civil rights laws.

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