EqualityMaine

@equalitymaine.bsky.social

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Protecting and advancing full equality for all LGBTQ+ Mainers for 40 years. EqualityMaine.org

Help campers unplug and connect with each other. Two Black hands with rings hold polaroid photos of campers and CITs in tie dye shirts and sunglasses smiling and making funny faces for the camera.
LGBTQ+ Youth Lobby Day - A Day of Action and Learning with EqualityMaine. Email kelly@equalitymaine.org for more info!
We won't back down! A rally for our community. Sunday, March 23, at 11am. Location change: Cumberland Town Commons, Tuttle Road, Cumberland (across from MIW, 353 Tuttle Road) We will march in solidarity and loving support for LGBTQIA+ students. Let's send a clear message - hate has no home here!
National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day! Join us for a free and confidential HIV/HCV testing event. Thursday, March 20 10am-3pm. Drum raffle for all AND incentives for testing with WPHW for the first time! Wabanaki Harm Reduction 157 Park Street, Suite 22 Bangor, ME 04401 For more info, contact: Wabanaki Harm Reduction and Prevention Team prevention@wabanakiphw.org 207-299-6378
EqualityMaine's 40th Anniversary Gala. Saturday, April 26. Brick South. Resurgam Place. Portland, ME. Honoring our history, fighting for our future.
New Leaders Project: Summer Camp 2025. August 11-16. Camper, CIT, Counselor Applications Now Open! Build Community. Find your voice. Learn to lead.
A trans flag is strung on string lights between two trees
New Leaders Project and Maine Trans Net present: Art and Nature Leadership Camp Monday April 21 - Wednesday April 23. Central Maine. Grades 8-12. Registration now open!
New Leaders Project: Summer Camp 2025. Camper Applications Now Open! Build community. Find your voice. Learn to lead.
Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance and SPACE present: Come as You Are!
"It's been 20 years that we've been protecting on the basis of gender identity. It's not new. It's not radical." -Kit Thomson Crossman
King Votes No on Legislation Banning Transgender Athletes from School Sports Programs! Senate Democrats Block GOP-Led Bill To Ban Transgender Athletes from Women's Sports! Thank you Angus King!
Queer Youth Art Club Lewiston - Lego Printmaking Wednesday March 12 5-8pm Ellard Studios 178 Lisbon Street Lewiston Maine Open to grades 7-12
We all want what’s best for our children. We expect our leaders will keep the focus on policy, not personal attacks, and to hold policymakers accountable when their actions cause harm.
Dozens of bills have been filed this year that seek to roll back or undermine the rights of trans people in our state. This session, we urge legislators to remember that children and private citizens are off-limits, and personal attacks go against Maine values & basic decency.
We stand united in declaring that adults should never harass, ‘out’, or instigate attacks on minors. All children deserve our safety and protection, so they can feel safe at home, at school, and in their communities.
Be an ally to aromantic people by: Listen to the experiences of aromantic people. Be willing to learn and educate yourself, and hear ways in which you may perpetuate bigotry. Show respect. You may not feel similar or understand where aromantic people are coming from, but it’s crucial to still provide a safe space for them to express their feelings. Understand that everyone is different. Even within the queer identity, there are many different ways to feel and express love. Not everyone feels or desires romance and that’s perfectly okay. It doesn’t mean that anything is wrong or someone is doing something wrong, they simply see things in a different way than you may.
Saying these to aromantic people won't help: "Come on! It's just a phase! You'll see when you'll get older." "D'aww! Don't say that! I'm sure you'll find someone!" "No way! You GOTTA like someone!"
Some reminders: Love exists in so many more forms than just romantic love. Relationships do not have to exist on a hierarchy or escalator. Queer platonic relationships to aro people can be just as important as a romantic relationship to others. Attraction isn't inherently romantic or sexual.
Aromantic = no romantic attraction (but may experience sexual attraction) Asexual = no sexual attraction (but may experience romantic attraction) Aromantic and asexual = no romantic and no sexual attraction
Demiromantic: Only experiences romantic attraction after forming an emotional bond with someone. Lithoromantic: experiences romantic attraction without the desire to have it reciprocated, or romantic attraction that fades upon reciprocation. Gray-aromantic: a more general term meaning that someone rarely experiences romantic attraction, or only under specific circumstances. Quoiromantic: inability to differentiate between romantic and platonic attraction. Cupioromantic: someone who is aromantic but still desires a romantic relationship.
What is the aromantic spectrum? any aromantic people mention having trouble relating to the experience of “falling in love”, or of having romantic “crushes”. Many may pursue non-traditional forms of intimate relationships, or choose not to have formal “relationships” at all. There is significant diversity in whether aromantic may or may not enjoy specific activities that are often coded as romantic (such as kissing), be uncomfortable with romance, be single or have a partner or be married – those are individual characteristics that vary widely from one aromantic person to another.
What is aromanticism? Aromanticism is a romantic orientation, which describes people whose experience of romance is disconnected from normative societal expectations, often due to experiencing little to no romantic attraction, or sometimes feeling repulsed by romance or being uninterested in romantic relationships. They may or may not experience other forms of attraction and may have any sexual orientation.
Happy Aromantic Awareness Week! A person with long blonde hair and glasses smiles at the camera while holding an aromantic flag. Their arm has a pride flag painted on it. Rainbow flags are waving in the background.
New Leaders Project: Summer Camp 2025 Camper Applications Now Open! Build Community. Find your Voice. Learn to Lead.
Volunteer with organizations that work directly with our community. MaineTransNet -Group Peer-Facilitators -Elected Steering Comittee positions -Safe Combinations Thrift Shop shifts -Event set up or breakdown -Pride Month support EqualityMaine -Event set up or breakdown -Event tabling -Pride Month support -Advocacy
If you are financially secure, consider supporting trans people. Due to a hostile societal culture, trans people are disproportionally affected by violence, homelessness, unemployment, and other systemic issues. Unfortunately, the current administration’s anti-trans rhetoric and executive orders will only exacerbate these issues. Support trans artists, creators, and authors! Donate to organizations who work directly with the trans community to provide support. Donate to fundraisers or mutual aid funds for trans people. Research companies that have contributed to transphobic politicans and divest from them.
Work with trans people in all parts of society for a more gender-expansive future. Learn about policies and laws affecting transgender people where you live and work. Are there laws or policies that protect or are inclusive of transgender people? Help to block harmful actions and speak up in support of helpful ones. Does your workplace have gender-neutral restrooms stocked with menstrual supplies? Do folks regularly share their pronouns? Are forms and images inclusive of many gender identities and presentations?
While it is always prudent to exercise caution in how we talk and post about difficult or traumatic topics and events, allies have a duty to actively protect trans folks from unnecessary harm. This can mean putting news articles, images, or announcements that may cause harm to the morale of trans folks behind content warnings and expansion links; writing about trans people and their experiences from a strengths-based perspective; or asking folks to be mindful of ensuring conversations about sensitive topics are had with the active and enthuastic consent of all parties present.
Speak out in support of trans people. If you see or hear harmful anti-trans rhetoric (including remarks, jokes, conversations, etc.), speak up and challenge it! Use the right name and pronouns, even if someone else uses the wrong name or pronouns for a transgender person.
Keep these things in mind about being a trans ally: There is no perfect ally. Be respectful and keep trying! It’s okay to make honest mistakes. Respecting someone's identity doesn't mean you need to understand all the nuance and complexity of it. People are complex. There is no right way to be trans or nonbinary; believe people when they tell you who they are. Rethink your gendered language (in general).
Educate yourself (and don't make trans people do extra work for you!) There are so many resources to answer the questions you may have about trans and nonbinary people! Look to resources published by reputable organizations and public figures before you ask your trans friend to do the emotional labor of explaining their identity.
How to Be a Trans Ally: a resistance primer for cis folks. Folks of all races and gender identities smile
EqualityMaine's New Leaders Project presents: Queer Youth Fridays Bangor. Friday, February 14, 3-6pm. Bangor Region YMCA Teen Center. Valentine's Day Crafts. Snacks. Community.
“Today is a dark and scary day for our community, especially if you’re Trans and/or non-binary, or love someone who is. Once we learn what the President officially plans to do, we will let you know what our plans are to fight back and keep you as safe as possible, and will provide you with information and guidance.”