Maine gov. candidate Mike Michaud reveals he is gay

(UPI) -- Maine Rep. Mike Michaud, a Democratic candidate for governor next year, has come out as gay, aiming to head off what he called a "whisper campaign" to undermine his potential campaign.

"I knew it was only a matter of time before individuals and organizations intent on re-creating the uncertainty that led to our current governor’s election three years ago would start their attacks," Michaud wrote in an opinion column for the Bangor Daily News.

"So I wasn’t surprised to learn about the whisper campaigns, insinuations and push-polls some of the people opposed to my candidacy have been using to raise questions about my personal life," he continued. "They want people to question whether I am gay."

"Allow me to save them the trouble with a simple, honest answer: 'Yes, I am. But why should it matter?'"

The six-time U.S. congressman said his sexuality was "part of who I am, as much as being a third-generation millworker or a lifelong Mainer." His announcement makes him the seventh openly gay or bisexual person to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In his column, Michaud, 58, said he intended to focus on issues in the campaign, not his own personal life or those of his opponents.

"We’ve had enough negativity in our politics and too many personal attacks over the last few years." he said. "We owe it to the people of Maine to focus on how we get our state back on track."

Before he was elected to Congress, he served 11 terms in the Maine Legislature.