About
Continuing its mission to stand with those who face oppression, clergy who would one day form The Religious Coalition Against Discrimination (RCAD) held informal conversations among themselves in the fall of 2006 to address the status of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Maine. The many forms of discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people became clear. Also clear was that many faith communities fostered discrimination overtly or inadvertently in their messages and activities. The opportunity to move discussion to action in this arena came in 2009 with the legislative and referendum campaigns for marriage equality. Progressive clergy and lay leaders united calling themselves The Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry in Maine (RCFM). RCFM became the religious voice publicly articulating the all-embracing love of God and calling Maine voters to welcome and uphold the sacredness of GLBT persons and relationships. Although the referendum vote did not support marriage equality, the progressive faith voice continues now as RCAD to gather support and invite people of faith in Maine to join in the holy work of healing and building a community where there is justice for all, including gay and lesbian couples and their families.
Mission Statement
The Religious Coalition Against Discrimination (RCAD) is a statewide interfaith network of clergy and lay religious leaders in Maine whose mission is to educate and publicly advocate for the civil and human rights of all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons, within our diverse Maine congregations and communities.
Our education and advocacy is done through the social justice lens common to our faith traditions. Our focus is change in the civic arena through civil discourse and sound political strategies. Our work complies with applicable restrictions for 501(c)(3) organizations.
History
United by common commitments to social justice, representatives of Jewish, Roman Catholic, Protestant and Unitarian traditions gathered in 1994 under the auspices of The Maine Council of Churches to address basic civil rights for gay and lesbian people. In May 1993 Maine’s governor had vetoed legislation that included sexual orientation in the Maine Human Rights Act. A conservative Christian coalition mounted a successful petition drive that put a proposal to prohibit passage of “gay rights laws” in Maine on the November 1995 ballot. It was defeated 53%-47%.
The religious groups assembled by The Maine Council of Churches continued to work together through statewide campaigns addressing basic civil rights for lesbian and gay people in 1997, 1998, and 2000. In 2005, Maine’s Roman Catholic bishop took a “neutral” position on legislation to include sexual orientation in the Human Rights Act. The Maine Council of Churches ceased its sponsorship of the religious coalition’s work, however the coalition of faith leaders committed to this legislation continued to work together on the 2005 ballot measure.
In 2008 representatives of the traditions that gathered in 1994 gathered to work for Marriage Equality. The Jewish, Protestant and Unitarian representatives called themselves The Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry. The Catholics formed a separate group, Catholics for Marriage Equality (C4ME).
C4ME incorporated as a Maine non-profit in January 2010. Some members of The Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry decided a formal organization was needed to provide education and advocacy for LGBT issues as people of faith. They incorporated in February 2010 as The Religious Coalition Against Discrimination (RCAD). C4ME is a 501(c)(4) and RCAD has applied for 501(c)(3) status. The two groups will share staff and have two board members in common. Each continues to be grounded in the social justice teachings of the Hebrew, Christian and Humanist traditions.