PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A six-term congressman and former paper mill worker hoping to unseat Maine Gov. Paul LePage next year announced that he's gay — a response to what he called a "whisper campaign" by political opponents hoping to weaken his gubernatorial bid.

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, 58, wrote in an op-ed provided to The Associated Press, the Portland Press Herald and the Bangor Daily News that "whisper campaigns, insinuations and push-polls" attempted to get voters to question whether he's gay.

"Allow me to save them the trouble with a simple, honest answer: 'Yes I am. But why should it matter?'" he wrote in the op-ed published Monday by the two newspapers.

The Democrat's announcement adds intrigue to a tight three-way race with LePage, the Republican incumbent, and wealthy independent Eliot Cutler.

A poll released in October suggested that Michaud is about even with LePage. Cutler, who finished second to LePage in the 2010 election, is touting himself as a better alternative in a state where unenrolled voters comprise the largest voting bloc.

Michaud didn't identify who he thinks is behind the alleged whisper campaign against him. His campaign has not previously raised the issue.

It's unknown what impact, if any, Michaud's disclosure might have in the race. Maine voters approved a gay marriage law a year ago; Michaud supported the measure.

Michaud's announcement could help him among liberals who may be giving Cutler a look, but more importantly, it diffuses the topic of his sexuality, said Sandy Maisel, a political science professor at Colby College. "He's demonstrated his intent to be open and to take the high road," he said.

Across the country, gay and lesbian candidates are making strides.

There are currently 538 non-straight men and women holding political office in the U.S., and those include a U.S. senator and a half-dozen members of the U.S. House, according to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which aims to increase the number of openly gay leaders at all levels of government. Currently, there are no gay governors.

For his part, Michaud downplayed the significance of his announcement.

"That may seem like a big announcement to some people. For me, it's just a part of who I am, as much as being a third-generation mill worker or a lifelong Mainer. One thing I do know is that it has nothing to do with my ability to lead the state of Maine," Michaud wrote.

Born in Millinocket, he worked in the Great Northern Paper Mill in East Millinocket when he launched his career in the Legislature. In Washington, he has focused on veterans' issues and is considered a moderate Democrat, part of the "Blue Dog" caucus.

The son and grandson of mill workers, Michaud said he's never forgotten where he came from.

"Most of all, I was brought up believing you should judge a person based on the content of his or her character, not by their race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. That's a value I know most Mainers share," he said.

Michaud, who never has married, said he never liked to talk about himself but wants people "to know that I am not ashamed of who I am." A spokesman declined to say if he's in a relationship.

"And if seeing someone from my background, in my position openly acknowledge the fact that he's gay makes it a little bit easier for future generations to live their lives openly and without fear, all the better," Michaud wrote.

If elected, he wouldn't be the first gay governor. New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey announced in 2004 that he was gay, making him the first openly gay governor. Nor is Michaud the first gay candidate. In Maryland, an openly gay candidate, Democrat Heather Mizeur, is running for governor.



Source: http://news.yahoo.com/maine-candidate-governor-announces-hes-gay-123946342--election.html

No wahala, so long as it not my man oo. Keep away from my man, abeg.

Looks like heterosexuals may get more and more extinct.

when will naija learn, being gay is just part of us there is so much more.
why should I be judged based on who I sleep with eh?

Who cares?

Seems a pseudo-intelligent gay has been understudying Hezron. This is exactly the kind of thread that brillant dude will create.
But there is always a difference.

stoned: when will naija learn, being gay is just part of us there is so much more.
why should I be judged based on who I sleep with eh?

Eeyyaahhh! Another pseudo-intelligent being.
Keep lamenting, it wont change a thing.
Besides Maine is in the US not Nigeria.

Colour_Tv: Seems a pseudo-intelligent gay has been understudying Hezron. This is exactly the kind of thread that brillant dude will create.
But there is always a difference.

Lol@understudy.

demelza: Who cares?

Obviously he came out cos his opponents knew that about him and were gonna use it against him, like a surprise or something. So he had to do it first.

masonkz:






Obviously he came out cos his opponents knew that about him and were gonna use it against him, like a surprise or something. So he had to do it first.

Didnt read before commenting.
Somehow I knew he could never be a republican.

chineloSA:
No wahala, so long as it not my man oo. Keep away from my man, abeg.

Looks like heterosexuals may get more and more extinct.

Nope. Just that the people you thought were heterosexuals are coming out as gay... and of course when many of that start happening, you'd naturally think that straight people are turning gay, when the case is not so. If Nigeria is to allow gay be themselves today, you'd be heavily surprised by the number of people that would come out as gay, including a relation/friend. If you're straight, you're straight.

demelza: Didnt read before commenting.
Somehow I knew he could never be a republican.

Lol. Very true.

masonkz:


Nope. Just that the people you thought were heterosexuals are coming out as gay... and of course when many of that start happening, you'd naturally think that straight people are turning gay, when the case is not so. If Nigeria is to allow gay be themselves today, you'd be heavily surprised by the number of people that would come out as gay, including a relation/friend. If you're straight, you're straight.

so true...

masonkz:


Nope. Just that the people you thought were heterosexuals are coming out as gay... and of course when many of that start happening, you'd naturally think that straight people are turning gay, when the case is not so. If Nigeria is to allow gay be themselves today, you'd be heavily surprised by the number of people that would come out as gay, including a relation/friend. If you're straight, you're straight.

True

I can imagine Naija. Alot of parents will be admitted to hospital for hyper-tension. Some buried

chineloSA:

True

I can imagine Naija. Alot of parents will be admitted to hospital for hyper-tension. Some buried

my own family will immediately kick me out without second thought!

GSKing:
my own family will immediately kick me out without second thought!

LMAO! Same here

No day goes by without me thinking about homophobia... even for just a second, it must cross my mind. Life just dey vex me sef!

Smart congressman,and a cute one at that.

chineloSA:

True

I can imagine Naija. Alot of parents will be admitted to hospital for hyper-tension. Some buried

GSKing:
my own family will immediately kick me out without second thought!

carr101:

LMAO! Same here

Mine would probably do same. And I know someday they'll come to know about me. So I'm preparing for it by trying to be totally independent from them, while still maintaining the family bond. I'm doing this so it will at least save me and them some emotional trauma that may come with the whole "disowning" threat.

Back to topic.


Do you guys think this guy stands the chance with this new publicity? Obviously it's not a publicity stunt, and I guess many of the democrats would like him.

GSKing:
my own family will immediately kick me out without second thought!

I can imagine. Hope you are prepared for anything.

masonkz:

Mine would probably do same. And I know someday they'll come to know about me. So I'm preparing for it by trying to be totally independent from them, while still maintaining the family bond. I'm doing this so it will at least save me and them some emotional trauma that may come with the whole "disowning" threat.

All the best when you do decide. But I think the best is to be caught, then to tell

masonkz: Back to topic.


Do you guys think this guy stands the chance with this new publicity? Obviously it's not a publicity stunt, and I guess many of the democrats would like him.

I don't think he stands a chance. American society is also stereotypical o. They have accepted gays but not completely

chineloSA:

All the best when you do decide. But I think the best is to be caught, then to tell

Nah. No telling...

A time will come when they'll be the ones suspecting....just like the opponents of Mike Michaud were already suspecting. hehe.

masonkz:






Mine would probably do same. And I know someday they'll come to know about me. So I'm preparing for it by trying to be totally independent from them, while still maintaining the family bond. I'm doing this so it will at least save me and them some emotional trauma that may come with the whole "disowning" threat.

I'm gonna let them know after graduation, at least I knw they won't be paying school fees then

carr101:

I'm gonna let them know after graduation, at least I knw they won't be paying school fees then

wise move

I ain't telling anybody nada! let them keep praying and asking jesus why I'm not seeing any guy or why i refuse to get married.

GSKing: I ain't telling anybody nada! let them keep praying and asking jesus why I'm not seeing any guy or why i refuse to get married.

You're still young and the pressure has not started mounting,give it some more yrs ,na run u go run commot for naija.omo, but dat marriage thingy,I don't wish it on any gay person but it seems inevitable once u've decided to stay back in naija.the trump card gays will always play is;get a good education,be good at what u do,become independent as early as u can and live ur life but the society will always want more, cos in Nigeria for u to reach a certain pinnacle requires u get married.without marriage,no acceptance in some positions and family circle if ur a guy. u can always see the shock and exasperation in d eyes of d people around u when ur filling out those forms at a certain age and u checked,single! U shout it from the roof top that u don't want to conform but the society shouts back at u that u must!
Well,this is Nigeria of our time and I don't see it changing anytime soon.marriage and family validates us and when that time comes, the family will resort to anything to see their little boy/girl marry and give them those little grand children.even ur enemies wudnt mind to see u get married.that's how pathetic it is.u then find out that even wit all ur successes in ur field of endeavor, ur still being ridiculed,u'll get no atom of respect and the worst of it all,they all think ur mentally unbalanced! Welcome to d nigerian gay reality folks.

Back to topic,I think and some how believe America is a forward thinking society.if Americans can elect a black man to d white house,I see no reason why an openly gay governor will not stand a chance.cases like this one always attracts a swing vote cos even the republicans themselves will be divided as some of them are also gays. and others will be sympathetic to the guys' cause and daaayuuum, that baba is also very handsome and charming, and yes American voters consider those, too! at the end of the day, the issues that might decide his winning or otherwise will be something far more removed from the issues of his sexuality.
Wish him all the best.

beryl04:


You're still young and the pressure has not started mounting,give it some more yrs ,na run u go run commot for naija.omo, but dat marriage thingy,I don't wish it on any gay person but it seems inevitable once u've decided to stay back in naija.the trump card gays will always play is;get a good education,be good at what u do,become independent as early as u can and live ur life but the society will always want more, cos in Nigeria for u to reach a certain pinnacle requires u get married.without marriage,no acceptance in some positions and family circle if ur a guy. u can always see the shock and exasperation in d eyes of d people around u when ur filling out those forms at a certain age and u checked,single! U shout it from the roof top that u don't want to conform but the society shouts back at u that u must!
Well,this is Nigeria of our time and I don't see it changing anytime soon.marriage and family validates us and when that time comes, the family will resort to anything to see their little boy/girl marry and give them those little grand children.even ur enemies wudnt mind to see u get married.that's how pathetic it is.u then find out that even wit all ur successes in ur field of endeavor, ur still being ridiculed,u'll get no atom of respect and the worst of it all,they all think ur mentally unbalanced! Welcome to d nigerian gay reality folks.

Most of my female lecturers, some professors, are either in their late 40s or early 50s... they aren't married and na dem dey smile pass o, you can't help but just love them...
Some women I know are bosses in their respctive jobs... they aren't married and na dem smile pass o...
some women I know are comfortable with their ADOPTED KIDS... they aren't married and na dem smile pass o...
Some ogas and big men I know are just too conformable with their single life... na dem smile pass too o

all boils down to one thing, INDEPENDENCE!

I know I'm in naija and believe me, I plan ahead of time... if those people didn't give a hoot about their country, then nothing is stopping me...

GSKing:
Most of my female lecturers, some professors, are either in their late 40s or early 50s... they aren't married and na dem dey smile pass o, you can't help but just love them...
Some women I know are bosses in their respctive jobs... they aren't married and na dem smile pass o...
some women I know are comfortable with their ADOPTED KIDS... they aren't married and na dem smile pass o...
Some ogas and big men I know are just too conformable with their single life... na dem smile pass too o

all boils down to one thing, INDEPENDENCE!

I know I'm in naija and believe me, I plan ahead of time... if those people didn't give a hoot about their country, then nothing is stopping me...

U earned my like there.u go gurl .love the spirit.

beryl04:
U earned my like there.u go gurl .love the spirit.

Thanks b