AUGUSTA, Maine — An attempt to amend the Maine Constitution with a gender equality clause failed Friday in the House of Representatives, effectively killing any chance of the concept coming to fruition.
LD 584, sponsored by Portland Democratic Rep. Diane Russell, received majority support Friday in the House of Representatives, 79-58, but fell well short of the two-thirds vote necessary for a constitutional amendment, which also would require a statewide vote.
The bill would have amended the Maine Constitution to prohibit the denial of equal rights based on the sex of an individual.
Remarks on the House floor Friday were brief and included no comments in opposition. Russell’s measure gained the support of every Democrat in the House plus two Republicans: Rep. Brian Hobart of Bowdoinham and Rep. Kevin Battle of South Portland.
Russell said after the vote that she was disappointed but not surprised.
“We should all support that men and women should be equal in the eyes of the law,” said Russell. “Clearly women’s equality is now a partisan issue. … Mom told me it’s a man’s world and to watch out for it. I didn’t believe her, but the higher I go, the worse it gets.”
Though there are more votes coming on the bill, Russell said Friday’s vote essentially killed it.
“I just wanted it on the record that someone is trying,” she said.
