State gay rights group endorses Allen

Equality Maine, the state’s largest advocacy group for the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, endorsed Tom Allen (D-Portland) for Senate Monday.

Allen, a current U.S. Representative, is challenging Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor.)

Betsy Smith, executive director of the group, said in a release:

“Throughout his long career, Congressman Allen has supported fairness and equality while opposing discrimination. His voting record on LGBT issues is exceptional. He has worked to eliminate discrimination in jobs, housing, public accommodations and financial matters, and we look forward to working with him to win fully-inclusive federal employment non-discrimination legislation.”

In April, Collins earned the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s biggest GLBT advocacy group. Collins was the only Republican to be endorsed by them.