Gay gubernatorial hopeful leads Maine pride parade

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Democrat who reluctantly came out of the closet last year has served as the grand marshal of Maine’s biggest gay pride parade

Mike Michaud (MEE’-shoh) would become the nation’s first openly gay person to be elected governor if he unseats Republican Paul LePage in November. He was the headliner at Saturday’s Portland Pride Parade.

He was joined by a coordinator at the University of Southern Maine’s Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity and a transgender student who won a discrimination lawsuit after her school refused to let her use the girls’ bathroom.

Michaud says many equality issues facing the country will be dealt with at the state level. He says it would be powerful for the gay rights community to have a voice at the table if he wins.

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Read more: http://www.salon.com/2014/06/21/gay_gubernatorial_hopeful_leads_maine_pride_parade/