A new report in HuffPost outlines how Senator Susan Collins recently welcomed the endorsement of the Christian Civic League of Maine, an organization that has consistently opposed efforts to protect LGBTQ+ Mainers and partners with multiple organizations designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

 

In an interview with CCL last week, Collins characterized herself as a “firewall” against progress on reproductive rights and anti-discrimination efforts in the Senate. LGBTQ+ equality advocates in Maine and across the country saw Collins’ decision to campaign with an extreme anti-equality group as a desperate attempt to shore up far-right voters and noted that she’s “not even pretending to be a moderate anymore.”

 

A spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, an organization that endorsed Collins for reelection as recently as 2014, said “embracing an extremist anti-LGBTQ group’s endorsement is nothing less than opportunistic in the waning days of this campaign,” and that “it is impossible to reconcile welcoming the endorsement of an organization that sought to out Maine legislators, opposes marriage equality and that actively demeans and attacks transgender children with Collins’ previously expressed views.” 

 

HuffPost: Susan Collins ‘Truly Grateful’ For Endorsement From Anti-LGBTQ, Anti-Abortion Group

 

By Hayley Miller

October 22, 2020

 

Key Points:

 

  • Though Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has lost several key endorsements to Democratic challenger Sara Gideon this election cycle, she received the full support last week of at least one group in her state: the anti-LGBTQ, anti-abortion Christian Civic League of Maine.

 

  • During an Oct. 13 interview with CCL of Maine executive director Carroll Conley, Collins — who has positioned herself as supporter of LGBTQ issues and reproductive rights ― said she was “truly grateful” for the group’s endorsement.

 

  • CCL of Maine, a political lobbying group founded in 1897 to support prohibition of alcohol and later to advocate for conservative Christian policies, is staunchly anti-abortion, opposes same-sex marriage and supports so-called conversion therapy ― a practice condemned by LGBTQ civil rights advocates.

 

  • The group also partners with the Family Research Council and the Alliance Defending Freedom ― two organizations designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center for their anti-LGBTQ views.

 

  • Some LGBTQ advocates saw Collins’ embrace of the endorsement as a desperate attempt to win over conservative voters during her toughest reelection bid to date.

 

  • “Embracing an extremist anti-LGBTQ group’s endorsement is nothing less than opportunistic in the waning days of this campaign,” said Lucas Acosta, a spokesperson for Human Rights Campaign, a leading LGBTQ civil rights group.

 

  • “After years of being an independent voice for Mainers and advocating for the LGBTQ community, Collins has again chosen to pander to the far-right rather than stand by the principles she professed for years,” Acosta continued in his statement.

 

  • Collins’ campaign did not immediately return HuffPost’s request for comment.

 

  • But Collins’ voting record in recent years has drawn the ire of liberal-minded voters, LGBTQ community members and allies, and abortion rights activists. She’s voted to confirm dozens of judges who have espoused anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ views.

 

  • She’s also helped further the agendas of President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) through several critical votes, including to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018 and to acquit Trump during his impeachment trial earlier this year.

 

  • Her unwillingness to break from McConnell on key issues caused her in part to lose the endorsements of NARAL and Planned Parenthood ― two major reproductive rights groups ― as well as HRC to Gideon this election cycle.

 

  • HRC’s Acosta bashed Collins’ apparent excitement over CCL of Maine’s support. “It is impossible to reconcile welcoming the endorsement of an organization that sought to out Maine legislators, opposes marriage equality and that actively demeans and attacks transgender children with Collins’ previously expressed views,” Acosta said.

 

  • CCL of Maine has a long history of anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion activism, including opposing anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ community members in Maine and picketing outside of reproductive health clinics.

 

  • In a statement announcing its support for Collins and Trump, CCL of Maine said it has chosen to endorse candidates they believe will “defend the unborn, religious freedom and parental rights.” (“Parental rights” is essentially a euphemism for conversion therapy. On its website, CCL of Maine warns against allowing “biology-deniers” to pass legislation that would prohibit “any discussion between your child and a licensed therapist that affirms your child’s biological reality.”)

 

  • When asked how she would act as a “firewall” against anti-discrimination legislation that would impact religious entities, Collins responded that it was a “very important” and “very legitimate” question.

 

  • Conley concluded the interview by thanking Collins for her service and warning listeners that there’s “so much at stake” in the November election.

 

  • “We believe that Susan Collins is a major part ― as she said, that firewall ― for what is at the front door right now in this country,” Conley said. “This is a major turning point. This is a time for conservatives and folks that care about the life issue, that care about our republic, they care about our Constitution to put our differences aside and to recognize the value of this candidacy.”

 

###