PORTLAND, Maine — A Democratic congressman and gubernatorial candidate who reluctantly made public his homosexuality last year found himself serving as the grand marshal of Maine's biggest gay pride parade Saturday and urged activists to continue fighting to eliminate discrimination and promote equality.

Rep. Michael H. 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 the parade in Portland.

Gay rights activists say the six-term congressman’s victory would be a milestone in their movement toward equality, inspire other gay leaders to pursue public office and send a positive message to the community’s youth.

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When Michaud came out publicly last year, he said he didn’t want to focus on his personal life in the three-person governor’s race with independent Eliot Cutler. But his potentially historic candidacy has caught the eye of national groups including the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which has bundled $30,000 to $50,000 for his campaign.

During the parade, which drew thousands, Michaud shook hands and took pictures with supporters who chanted “We like Mike” as he walked in front of the “Loud and Proud” marching band.

Aside from fundraising, observers say Michaud’s sexual orientation will probably have other political importance in one of the first states to approve same-sex marriage at the ballot box in 2012.

It could turn away some deeply conservative and religious voters, but they probably wouldn’t have supported the Democrat anyway, said Michael Cuzzi, a former Democratic campaign strategist.

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Michaud has come under fire from his political foes for voting against anti-discrimination laws for gays and other pro-equality measures while in the state legislature. His campaign said his position on the issues has evolved over the years and he’s now strongly pro-equality.

That turnaround and his decision to come out could attract progressives who were not fans of his in earlier elections, said Sandy Maisel, political science professor at Colby College.

If elected, Michaud wouldn’t be the first gay governor. New Jersey’s Jim McGreevey had already been voted into office when he announced in 2004 that he was gay. He subsequently resigned.

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