PORTLAND, Maine — Speaking at the seventh annual Portland Dyke March on Friday, Dale McCormick steered clear of the controversy that led to her resignation as executive director of the Maine State Housing Authority.
In her address, McCormick voiced support for President Barack Obama’s track record on gay rights and praised the change she has seen since her first campaign for Maine state senator in 1990, when she was elected as Maine’s first openly gay state legislator.
“Today we have a president who dismantled “don’t ask, don’t tell,” McCormick said to loud applause from the crowd. “If you’d told me 30 years ago that we would have a president who would come out in favor of us marrying our partners, I would have said you were crazy.”
McCormick urged the crowd to vote for Obama in November and to reach out to friends and neighbors in favor of gay marriage in Maine.
Sarah Holmes, an organizer of the march, said the organizing committee chose McCormick as a speaker because of her many years of commitment to gay rights in Maine, calling the former state senator a “hero” in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community of Maine.
“I’ve always admired her greatly and we wanted to honor her for everything she’s done,” Holmes said.
McCormick “reluctantly” resigned from her post as executive director of the Maine State Housing Authority on March 20 after what she described at the time as a yearlong “systematic attack” led in large part by Republican State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin. McCormick, a longtime Democratic leader who was appointed to the MaineHousing post by fellow Democrat and then-Gov. John Baldacci in 2005, had more than two years left on her term when she left the agency.
Poliquin, buoyed by four new appointees to the MaineHousing board by Republican Gov. Paul LePage, has a seat on the authority board by virtue of his treasurer position. The former GOP gubernatorial and U.S. Senate hopeful sharply criticized McCormick’s management, saying the agency under her watch overspent on historic renovations and energy efficiency when it should have focused on keeping costs of low-income housing projects down.
However, the Legislature’s watchdog agency in late May announced that its study of MaineHousing expenditures over a five-year period found ” no indications of fraud” and Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability head Beth Ashcroft said at the time her investigators “judged substantially all of the $4.3 million sampled by us to be generally consistent with Maine Housing’s mission and primary activities.”
While new MaineHousing board chairman and hotel developer Peter Anastos denied he and Poliquin headed a “witch hunt” to remove McCormick, her supporters hailed the report as vindication.
McCormick herself, however, has been largely quiet since her March departure from the agency.
Held in Portland’s Monument Square, The Dyke March drew more than 100 participants to kick off Southern Maine Pride Weekend. Events on Saturday will include a parade from Monument Square to Deering Oaks Park, where there will be vendors and musical, dance and comic performances.
Holmes, who has been organizing the Portland Dyke March since its inception in 2005, described the name of the event as an act of “reclaiming” negative language and turning it into an affirmation of the lesbian community.
“It’s political, it’s about being visible and part of a community when it’s used in a positive and empowering way,” she said.
BDN writer Seth Koenig contributed to this report.
Who cares? Those amongst us who still get hung up on issues of sexual orientation are the people that we should be concerned about. The rest of our society has evolved. A more appropriate headline would read: Some Religious Groups Concerned that Mainer’s Are Advocating for Basic Rights.
No Bangorian, most Mainers think and know homosexuality is wrong. We will not do anything to harm them, however we can never accept their perverted lifestyle. We cannot and will not accept this sin that cries out to heaven for God’s vengeance. We must as a civil society shun perversion. I know this sounds harsh and cruel to you, but it is actually loving. Society must never accept willful murder, unnatural sexual acts, oppression of the poor and defrauding the laborer of wages.
Domestic assault is wrong. A married minister sleeping with the organist is wrong. A preist abusing children is wrong. These are the sins that cry out for God’s vengeance. Two loving adults living in a loving committed relationship is not a sin.
You named sins that were wrong and the person will answer to God. But there are 4 sins that cry out to heaven for God’s vengeance . If you don’t like it take up your argument with God.
Civil law is not God’s law and God’s law is not Civil law.
Ever hear of natural law?
Yup and they are not the basis of Civil law either.
There is No Right or Wrong!
Only thinking makes it so!
“Thinking” like yours is what’s taking this country down the tubes . . .
There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking
makes it so.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, Hamlet
It’s not “MY” thinking!
#1. Who cares what Shakespeare thought. Who made him an authority on morality and why?
#2. The above statement is a) illogical and b) self-contradictory.
#3. When pressed, I doubt you even believe it. Racism? Social injustice? Gender inequality?
#1. Who Cares?— Caring Requires thinking doesn’t it!
#2. The comment was a reflection on someone else’s thoughts, an attempt to inspire thought in itself. —-It worked! You replied!
#3. Oh! I believe it! When the synapse stop firing — Lights are out!
Racism? Social injustice? Gender inequality? –That will be left for the ones who can still think!
I see your god and raise you a Hulk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4gN_yc_7ug&feature=related
It is if they are the same sex. And it is if they are not married . . .
I see you are expanding your horizons when it comes to “perversions”.
When does “shunning” = “not do anything to harm them”?
When does “shunning” = “loving” in a “civil society”?
Is the a difference between “willful murder” and “un-willful murder”?
Yes there is a difference between willful murder and murder, look it up.
Odd how you skip the first two questions and go right to the third one. Why?
Shunning is just ignoring a person and homosexuals should be ignored. They are very immature people who are having a temper tantrum because civil society knows their lifestyle is wrong.
Evangelical and fundamental christians should be ignored. They are very immature people who are having a temper tantrum because civil society knows their lifestyle is wrong.
I am neither of those.
Then you would be????
A civilized human being, that cares where their fellow humans are headed.
“A civilized human being, that cares where their fellow humans are headed” at the expense of their fellow human beings.
Oh…”willful murder” doesn’t appear in the Maine Revised Statutes.
based on the votes from previous years and polling numbers, I think the word “most” is a bit too much. 1/2 of the people in ME don’t agree with you. that’s not “most.” So, don’t lump me in your “we.” I will advocate for all to be treated with equity in the civil society and for those who choose a religious society to make their own decisions about how they implement their faith, provided it does not harm others.
I will use the word most because it’s true. Most people in their hearts know homosexuality is wrong but are afraid of the bullying by the pro homosexual crowd.
It is time for a civil society to quietly go into the voting booth and not allow this perversion. There is no arguing with them because they are like little children who won’t take NO for an answer. It is wrong behavior and we must never accept it.
I suppose if you were alive in 1860 you would have fought for slavery.
I suppose if you were alive in 1919 you would have fought against ending women’s suffrage.
I suppose if you were alive in 1947 you would have voted to maintain the military in segregated units.
I suppose if you were alive in 1967 you would have voted to maintain racial purity by voting against interracial marriage.
No on all four, all those are truly civil rights issues.
Well I see you edited your response from “three” to “four”.
And your point?
My “point” Quartz? Well I would think my point was obvious but since my point escaped you let me restate my point.
Your original post said and I quote, “No on all three”. Prior to my response you changed your post to read, “No on all four, all those are truly civil rights issues.”
So my point that escaped you was “you edited your response from “three” to “four”.”
Does that help make my point?
Wow you focus on my editing, I mistakenly said 3 and minutes later changed it to 4. So what’s your stupid point?
I could care less about your “editing”. It’s your words that I focus on.
And your words say a great deal about your “Christian” attitude…”stupid”. Have I called you any names? No. Maybe you should stop focusing on “Christian” values until you can demonstrate them in your posts.
I didn’t call you stupid I asked you what your stupid point was. Did I ever mention I was a “Christian”, it’s not only “Christians” who read the bible and take to heart the wise words in it.
Word smith it all you want Quartz…I had a point which I made. You didn’t follow the point. I explained again after your request then you call the point “stupid”. Fine. Whatever.
You really don’t see your hypocrisy in that response, do you?
Government rights given to ‘normal’ marriages denied to SSM isn’t a civil rights issue, but interracial marriage that people thought gross and wrong at the time, you do? WOW
Your “truth” is anything but. Your “truth” is your opinion, an opinion which is based on Bronze Age dogma, fairy tales, and has no basis in fact. So do us all a favor, if your god speaks to you, do not do as he asks, and please seek help from a mental health professional. I say this because by not allowing your religion to set societies rules, and allowing science to do its thing we now know that Moses, had he been real, suffered from auditory and visual hallucinations likely brought on by schizophrenia. In simpler terms, your god was not speaking to him, he was mentally ill.
No Dane, you are the one with the mental health issues. You can use all the bully tactics out to there to shut me up, but my opinion is as good as yours.
“There is no arguing with them because they are like little children who won’t take NO for an answer. It is wrong behavior and we must never accept it.”
Well, Quartz, those sentences certainly provide a perfect description of homophobes like you!
No, Steve I am not afraid of men.
{ Society must never accept willful murder, unnatural sexual acts, oppression of the poor and defrauding the laborer of wages.}
You just defined both the Republican and Democrat Parties!
So now “How do we proceed”!
Rise of the Planet of the Apes?
Do you actually believe any of the revolting nonsense you write?
Get use to it Steve Anderson, not everyone thinks like you. I believe homosexuality is one of the 4 sins that cries out to heaven for God’s vengeance.
What?
Who cares.
Hey smarty pants, nice try.
It was and is a great try.
It was too forced. Trolling needs to be more subtle.
Exactly…………
Prime example of twisting an unrelated issue (McCormick’s criticized management style) into a sexual preference “drama”. The public is tired of it.
Gays are as responsible for a “job well done” (or not) as everyone else. Let’s make sure we don’t get carried away and mistake “equality” for “supremacy”. Gays are not exempt from “messing up” in ways that all human beings do from time to time. A perspective on the aspect of job performance, should have absolutely nothing to do with sexual orientation, unless of course someone is so geared to perceived “injustice” in common everyday tasks, they are unable to rationalize on any other level.
Gay Shame Parade “They glory in their wickedness.”
Just a thought…if you don’t like the parade don’t go.
I find it silly and wasteful that “Irish” people decide to go on a drinking binge on St. Patrick’s day each year. Swilling green beer and consuming all manner of green things. I choose not to go to bars and restaurants that choose to host St. Patrick Day parties for that reason. I also choose not to attend any St. Patrick Day parades for the same reason.
I stay away! Also! I choose that as a day of sobriety, in protest of sobriety.
After all you can’t be Irish just one day a year.
Darn, Amatuers!
So you are comparing Irish people and their drinking to dykes and their what?
Not in the least. I am saying if you do not like something don’t look. Don’t participate. People are getting their #*%%&@ all in a twist over something they don’t have to look at or participate in.
What a relief. I thought you hated the Irish and their green beer.
And ill-educated, easily-influenced bigots such as you glory in your ignorance. Jesus must be mighty proud of you.
Can’t speak for the Savior, but just going out on a limb here, I’d say he wouldn’t be overly enthusiastic. I could be wrong though, I’m not perfect like him.
I thought judging was left to “higher” authority? Guess you believe you have the right and power to pass judgement on your fellow human beings.
I believe they are all high, jd. If they were rational, thinking beings not partaking of the drugs they’re force fed by their screwy pastors, this would be a better world.
Time for McCormick to just go away… PLEASE!
I’ll take a McCormick any day, over a LePew or LePoliquin.
She’s all yours. Maybe she’ll provide you with a $$300,000 apartment.
Well you can have her she. This person is a joke this person while in office was blowing our money unethically on trips, spa visits & message therapists. Taking our money going to Casinos but taking our tax dollars and donating to Casinos No (rolls eyes makes no sense). She also gave money to Equality/Special Rights for less than 5%. The bottom line is she should have been canned years ago but she is always kissing the butts of Libs. She belongs behind bars with the rest of the corrupt Liberals in Augusta.
The designer of the Maine Dyke banner certainly wasn’t a Plumber…female adapters and male adapters…one doesn’t work without the other. Don’t hire Dale McCormick or any of these people for your plumbing problems.
Edit: Dane was insulted that I referred to these people as “these people.” These people refers to these particular dykes that this story was all about.
“These people?” Ignorant much?
Oh! Dyke’s, March!
I thought the article was about Marching in Nyke’s!
I think naming a group Dyke’s, when this is a women’s group, is degrading. Couldn’t they have thought of a better name? Why were they marching in the parade, just to cause more controversy?
I guess Dale found a new job already. Working for Obama..
P.S. Dale, If Obama really cared he would have worked on this 3 years ago… He is in his I care for your vote mode…… All Obama said was I think it should be left up to the States to decide… Which it already is left up to the states to decide… Did you get something else out of that Dale?
If she’s working for Obama, it’d be a refreshing change, I’m sure, from the underhanded, sleazy, puppets whose every string is pulled by out-of-state interest groups with no sense of shame whatsoever.
Yes. But enough about Baldacci already. Let’s just move on dot org.
I feel discriminated against. If i use the word D**e in any of my comments it will get removed.
Good point, especially with the screen name you have, the new Green Lantern (not Hal Jordan) is gay, so you should be able to use that word.
Sterotype much?
Sounds like it hits to close to home.
Me???? Hardly.
Apparently you don’t know many gay people.
what is it to you? you seem to have the answer so why ask a question?
When is the next Hetero Stud Parade, I’ve been looking for the sign up sheet. I was hoping to show the world what a real manly man looks like and proud of it.
I believe that is during the Maine Potato Blossom Festival 7/14-7/22/2012.
Oh I’m sorry David…I thought you typed Spud not Stud.
That’s funny!
Can I call them, “Dykes” now or is that still hate speech for a white Anglo-Saxon, middle class, middle aged, christian male? Can I use the “N” word yet or is that still off limits too?
Don’t know…why don’t you try and see what happens.
Dykes! Happy?
That’s because all the ones that don’t act that way go unnoticed.
Hahaha LOL. You couldn’t have said it any better. The truth hurts Liberals on here they just don’t get it. The Libs think Mccormick and her out of control behavior is acceptable. That she can use her office to continue to do what she is a Liberal Activist who is getting paid on Taxpayers dollars. Well this person isn’t fooled this woman should be behind bars in an orange prison suit with her buddy Paul Violette. The Libs and Gay Marriage supporters better be prepared for major defeat on November 6th. They could really take it on the chin with Nobama losing, Republicans keeping Snowe’s seat, Mumbles Michaud losing, Gay Marriage II down to defeat again, and Republicans controlling the Legislature still.
Gay men are not all effeminate. I’m certainly not and I’d guess just a minority of us are. That percentage probably applies to the “obvious” lesbians, as well. You see the ones that are look different and immediately stereotype us. That’s the reaction of a narrow-minded person.
As I’ve posted before, I think parades like this are a bad idea right now. They contribute to misunderstanding us and give bigots another reason to make posts such as yours.
By the way, my sexual attractions are not a choice. Are yours? We don’t choose who we’re attracted to, just how we let that affect our lives. You’d do well to understand that difference.