Maine reporter says he was wrongly fired over e-mail calling gay marriage supporters hateful

Maine reporter fights firing for gay marriage note

WATERVILLE, Maine — A longtime Maine newspaper reporter says he was unjustly fired after writing a personal e-mail to gay marriage supporters rebuking their tactics.

The Portland Newspaper Guild has filed a grievance on behalf of 58-year-old Larry Grard (GRAHRD’), who says he was fired Nov. 10 from the Morning Sentinel in Waterville.

Grard sent an e-mail to the Human Rights Campaign the day after Maine voters repealed a law that would have allowed gay couples to wed.

Grard said he was offended that the organization claimed gay marriage opponents used hate and said it was supporters who were being hateful. A Human Rights Campaign worker who saw the e-mail complained to the paper but said he did not ask for Grard to be fired.

Grard said his lapse in judgment shouldn’t warrant dismissal.

The newspaper’s management did not immediately return calls seeking comment.