Rep. Michaud Comes Out as Gay

Maine Democratic congressman is running for governor in 2014

Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine) came out as gay Monday in a column he released to three of his state's major news outlets.

Michaud is running for governor for 2014, and would become the first openly gay governor. His opponents' personal attacks against Michaud, the congressman says, influenced him to come out.

"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. They want people to question whether I am gay," he wrote.