Maine Faith Leaders Organize 'Alternative' Event to Counter Turning Point USA

The 'Love is the Point' gathering will support immigrants and transgender people, groups that organizers say Turning Point USA has targeted.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:49pm

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A serene, softly lit interior of a church sanctuary, with sunlight streaming through a stained glass window and casting a warm glow on the wooden pews, conveying a sense of community and spiritual refuge.The 'Love is the Point' event at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church aims to provide a welcoming, inclusive alternative to the divisive rhetoric of Turning Point USA.Portland Today

In response to an upcoming Turning Point USA Faith event at the Portland Expo, more than a dozen Maine congregations are organizing an 'alternative' gathering at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Portland. The interfaith event, dubbed 'Love is the Point,' will provide a 'love-centered' response to Turning Point USA, which organizers say openly rejects 'our neighbors, our transgender siblings, and the many immigrants that are vital to life in Maine.'

Why it matters

The event highlights growing concerns among Maine faith leaders about the rise of Christian nationalist ideology, which they believe is the 'antithesis of authentic Christianity.' The organizers aim to provide a welcoming space for community members who feel targeted by what they see as Turning Point USA's divisive political views.

The details

The 'Love is the Point' event on May 15 will be hosted by the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church and supported by over 15 faith organizations across Maine. The Rev. Norman Allen, minister at the church, said the goal is to offer 'something beautiful and love-centered' in response to Turning Point USA's event, which he believes 'rejects those communities.' The event will feature local musicians and is open to the public.

  • The 'Love is the Point' event will take place on May 15, 2026 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Turning Point USA Faith's event is scheduled for the same day at the Portland Expo.

The players

Rev. Norman Allen

Minister at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Portland, which is hosting the 'Love is the Point' event.

Rev. Jane Field

Executive director of the Maine Council of Churches, which has partnered in organizing the 'Love is the Point' event.

Turning Point USA

A conservative youth organization that is co-sponsoring the event at the Portland Expo, which organizers say targets immigrants and transgender people.

Calvary Chapel Greater Portland

The Westbrook-based church that originally booked the Portland Expo for a 'worship night' before Turning Point USA Faith signed on as a co-sponsor.

Erika Kirk

CEO of Turning Point USA, who sometimes speaks at Turning Point USA Faith events.

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What they’re saying

“When a group like Turning Point shows up and rejects those communities, that's concerning to all of us. Rather than stand across the street with protest signs, we're offering something beautiful and love-centered to show a different side of how to view the world.”

— Rev. Norman Allen, Minister, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church

“What guides our work, in everything we do, always comes back to: Does it promote love of neighbor? Does it promote kindness? I think Turning Point is often the opposite of that. It's who should we hate, and who should we exclude? Who is getting into heaven and who isn't?”

— Rev. Jane Field, Executive Director, Maine Council of Churches

What’s next

City officials have said they are bound by the First Amendment in renting the Portland Expo to Turning Point USA Faith, but they have the authority to terminate the contract if they determine the event poses a public safety risk.

The takeaway

This event highlights the growing divide between faith leaders who prioritize 'love of neighbor' and Christian nationalist groups like Turning Point USA that promote exclusion. The 'Love is the Point' gathering aims to provide a welcoming alternative that celebrates the diversity of the Maine community.