Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, June 17, 2000 - Editorial

Sunday's planned "Speak Out" walk is confirmation that not everyone who lives in Lewiston or Auburn feels safe to appear in public with a partner they love, especially if the couple is gay.

The walk is a political statement and a community awareness project. And it's a first in the Twin Cities.

"Walk with the One You Love Day" is endorsed by the Maine Legislature as an event "to foster greater appreciation for diversity and to make a strong, positive statement about the kind of community and state we want to live in."

The Legislature recognizes that during the walk, "both gay and nongay people will walk together as an act of solidarity and community-building to affirm the value of family and the belief that everyone deserves the right to be who they are, love who they want and to walk with whom they choose in the community without fear. "

The Legislature recognizes that during the walk, "both gay and nongay people will walk together as an act of solidarity and community-building to affirm the value of family and the belief that everyone deserves the right to be who they are, love who they want and to walk with whom they choose in the community without fear. "

It's a problem some people just refuse to recognize.

Michael Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League, wrote in a guest column in this newspaper last week that legally protecting or affirming homosexuality in any way doesn't fit with what Christianity affirms.

There are many who disagree with him.

The five area Methodist churches in the Twin Cities have endorsed Sunday's walk in the spirit of Christianity hoping, as one member said, to educate people that members of the "Christian Right are not the only Christians out there speaking out about this."

These churches are not alone in their affirmation of diversity.

The congregation of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Wilton recently voted to officially become an open and affirming church, never "denying membership, positions of leadership, or employment to anyone based on his or her sexual orientation."

Lesbians and homosexuals are subjected to harassment, name calling, threats and assaults in many communities in Maine, and a host of police officers who recognize that hate have endorcsed endorsed Sunday's walk, as have hospitals, businesses, temples, economic and political policy groups, and others who believe everyone should feel safe to walk down the street with their partner.

Sunday's walk will be a peaceful demonstration that fear exists here. It will be up to the community to erase that fear among neighbors.