WATERVILLE (AP) — A Maine newspaper reporter fired over an e-mail he sent to an organization that supports gay marriage is suing in federal court.

Larry Grard contends dismissal was too severe for the e-mail he sent from a personal account to the Human Rights Campaign the day after Maine voters repealed a law that would have allowed gay couples to wed. He ended the e-mail with two words: “Good riddance!”

The group alerted the Morning Sentinel newspaper, but didn’t ask for his dismissal.

The Bangor Daily News reports that Grard — in a complaint filed last week — says that MaineToday Media, which owns the Waterville-based newspaper, violated his civil rights. Richard Connor, president and CEO of MaineToday Media, said Monday he doesn’t comment on personnel matters.