Donald Mendell claims in the first TV
ad from opponents of gay marriage in Maine that he was targeted for
his opposition in 2009.
Opponents of marriage equality
successfully turned to voters in 2009 to repeal a law approved by
lawmakers. One ad, titled Safe Schools, featured Mendell, a
high school counselor.
“Vote yes on Question 1 to prevent
homosexual marriage from being pushed on Maine students,” Mendell
said in the ad.
Mendell's appearance in the ad prompted
a complaint to state regulatory officers, alleging that Mendell “does
not have the right as a licensed social worker to make public
comments that can endanger or promote discrimination.”
Three years later, supporters have
returned the issue to the ballot box. If approved in November, Maine
would become the first state to legalize gay nuptials by referendum.
On Monday, Protect Marriage Maine, the
group working to defeat the measure, released its first TV spot, in
which Mendell claims he was targeted for his views.
“I was a successful school counselor
in Maine for over 20 years; once nominated as teacher of the year,”
Mendell says in the new ad. “Yet, when I supported traditional
marriage, they tried to get me fired, they went after my state
license, claiming that supporting marriage as between one man and one
woman is discriminatory.” (The video is embedded on this page.
Visit
our video library for more videos.)