MAINE: Gay Gubernatorial Candidate Grand Marshal’s Portland Pride Parade

Via the Associated Press:

A Democratic candidate who reluctantly made public his homosexuality last year found himself serving as the grand marshal of Maine’s biggest gay pride parade and festival Saturday and urged activists to continue fighting to eliminate discrimination and promote equality. Mike Michaud, who would become the nation’s first openly gay person to be elected governor if he unseats Republican Paul LePage in November, said it would be powerful for the gay community to have a seat at the table in discussions with governors across the country on equality issues. “Maine has come a long ways and our nation has come a long ways, but there’s still a long way to go,” he said in an interview before he marched alongside a white convertible down the roughly milelong route in downtown Portland.