Maine Sen Susan Collins has joined the three other members of Maine's congressional delegation in acknowledging her support for same-sex marriage. Collins has long said that the issue of marriage equality should be left up to states to decide. Today, in response to inquiries from the media, she took a personal stand. And she also earned the endorsement of the nation's largest LGBT civil right organization in her re-election campaign.
In announcing the endorsement of Collins, the national Human Rights Campaign pointed to her record of fighting for LGBT equality at the federal level. She led efforts in the Senate to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity. She introduced legislation to repeal the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy. And in 2004 and 2006 she voted against a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
"She's extremely pleased by this endorsement. It's definitely a big boost to our campaign," says Lance Dutson, a spokesman for the Collins' campaign. "And it reaffirms her position as a champion of these issues ever since she's been down there."
Dutson says HRC, which represents 1.5 million supporters and works to achieve LGBT equality, will pack political muscle and could infuse more cash into the Collins campaign.
Democrat Shenna Bellows, who served as director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union, and was a leader in the successful campaign to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine, is Collins' opponent in the race. Bellows says she's disappointed but not completely surprised by the HRC's endorsement of Collins, since the group took a similar position on Collins'candidacy in 2008.
"It does demonstrate election-year politics and the need for many advocacy organizations to choose Republicans even when Republicans are less than perfect," she says.
Bellows says it was a disappointment that during the 2012 same-sex marriage campaign Collins remained silent on the issue. And Bellows says Collins hasn't demonstrated leadership two years later to say she now supports it. "I will always stand up for full equality for our entire community," Bellows says.
In a written statement, Collins said simply that she agrees with Maine voters' decision to legalize same-sex marriage.
"Today, same-sex couples can be legally married in 19 states and the District of Columbia.," Collins wrote. " Nearly 44 percent of Americans live in a state where same-sex couples can be legally married, and I believe this number will only continue to grow. "
