Central Maine Newspapers, June 18, 2000

He never reached the other side.

Set upon by three young men who regarded his flamboyance as offensive, Howard was thrown over the railing into approximately 6 feet of water A non-swimmer; Howard drowned.

His assailants were arrested and prosecuted for causing his death.

Howard will be remembered in Bangor and elsewhere Sunday, when the Maine Speak Out Project sponsors the third annual "Walk With the One You Love Day".

Participation in the event will be interesting to gauge. Occurring at 10 locations on this Father's Day throughout Maine, including Augusta, Brunswick, Bangor; Belfast and Rockland, the walk is deemed as a community-building event and hopes to attract a wide range of people.

Maine in general has had mixed successes in accommodating the spectrum of lifestyles and sexual orientation in every-day society. Gay rights legislation has been subjected to statewide referendums, and there remains a strong - some might say virulent - resistance to the overt presence of gays and lesbians in many areas.

Charlie Howard and his friends believed themselves safe to walk the city streets. They were wrong then. Maine Speak Out hopes that they would be right Sunday