Advocates for children, schools and trans people say that a billionaire-backed initiative — that would open up Maine school kids to harassment and discrimination — is not about sports, in spite of its name. Out-of-state billionaire and megadonor Richard Uihlein is bankrolling the initiative “An Act to Designate School Sports Participation and Facilities by Sex”…
A newly formed coalition led by EqualityMaine, GLAD Law and the Maine Women’s Lobby is pushing back against a ballot initiative that would bar transgender athletes from girls’ sports in Maine, calling the proposal an “attack on public education” and warning it would increase bullying and harassment in schools. The coalition’s response came Monday after…
Update: On Thursday, June 12, lawmakers rejected efforts to restrict transgender students’ rights in school sports and bathrooms, as well as efforts to roll back access to gender-affirming care. Maine has been a focal point of hostility from the Trump administration this year for refusing to adhere to Trump’s executive order that would prohibit trans…
As Pres. Donald Trump continues his attacks on trans Mainers and other members of the LGBTQ+ community, Maine is still one of the best states for LGBTQ+ equality. Advocates for the community say a key strategy in opposing Trump is taking his orders with a grain of salt. Trump has long used trans rights as…
This week on the podcast, Esther Pew is joined by an impressive array of Maine LGBTQ and reproductive rights experts to discuss the implementation of the state’s new shield law, protecting health care providers and patients from investigation and prosecution by authorities in other states. The panel includes Mary Bonauto with GLBTQ Legal Advocates &…
Amid increasing attacks nationally on the rights and humanity of trans people, members of Maine’s LGBTQ community, accompanied by family members and supporters, came to the State House Tuesday to ask lawmakers to support a package of bills they say would improve their lives. “Our folks have been really stressed out about what’s going on…
With the new year has come renewed attacks on transgender kids in Maine. The assault is coming via bills introduced by Republicans in the state legislature and in the form of campaigns by conservative activists at the local level, including those behind a recall of officials in a western Maine school district who pushed for an…
Intergenerational connections can be powerful tools to help improve overall quality of life for both young and old. It can be especially true in the LGBTQ community, which faces the growing threat of hate groups and anti-LGBTQ legislation. The nonprofit Equality Maine is helping to build these connections, and support those struggling with the number…
Beacon reporter Evan Popp contributed to this piece. The U.S. Senate appears on track to send President Joe Biden a bill in the coming weeks that would guarantee same-sex and interracial couples can marry, even if the Supreme Court overturns the landmark cases that enshrined those rights. “I think we’re very close,” Maine Republican Sen.…
Dan Neumann contributed reporting for this article. Advocates told Congress on Thursday that a U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning a landmark abortion rights case is likely only the beginning, and could be followed by similar action by the high court on same-sex marriage, contraception and more. Witnesses at a U.S. House Judiciary Committee advised that…