News from the Pine Tree State
LaJeunesse moves on
Ross LaJeunesse, the openly gay Biddeford, Maine, native and former Google executive vying for US Senator Susan Collins’ seat this November, ended his campaign in late March, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I cannot ask my supporters to continue working hard, to continue making financial contributions, to continue volunteering, to continue advocating for my campaign when the country is focused on an unprecedented health and economic crisis, and when the type of campaign I planned, meeting voters where they live and work and speaking person to person, is impossible,” he wrote in a statement announcing his withdrawal from the race.”
LaJeunesse—who’d also served as advisor to US Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell and Senator Edward Kennedy and held leadership roles in the California state government—had been endorsed by Victory Fund, the national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office.
“But now the question is how best to achieve my original goal for this campaign: ensuring that Susan Collins is defeated. For me, the answer is to withdraw from the primary and endorse Sara Gideon,” he said in his statement,” adding that he also has “tremendous respect” for his other former fellow Democrats running in the primary, Betsy Sweet and Bre Kidman, “who care about Maine and our country, and are running for the right reasons.”
“I also know that Sara is the only Democrat who can beat Susan Collins,” he wrote. “So I will do whatever I can to ensure that she wins in November.”
First trans valedictorian in state
A winning combination of intelligence, hard work and inspiring character are surely among the top qualities that brought Belfast, Maine senior Syd Sanders to this moment. Not only has Sanders earned the top spot in his 2020 graduating class, he is likely the first transgender valedictorian in Maine—and quite possibly the first in the country, noted Sanders in the Bangor Daily News.
“I have a naturally loud, combative personality, so it’s hard to stay hidden for long,” Sanders told the Banger newspaper. “There are lots of conservative people at Belfast. But the thing is, I’ve just gained their respect somehow. I feel that even people who disagree with who I am, they still respect me. I don’t know entirely why. But that’s what happened.”
“Syd Sanders is an extraordinary person, with a depth of understanding, passion and commitment unusual for someone so young,” Superintendent Mary Alice McLean told the paper. “He’s probably the most undaunted and fearless student I’ve ever had,” he said. “I’m incredibly proud of him scholastically and also personally. He has a rare kind of determination and integrity.”
OUT Maine goes online
Back in March, OUT Maine was one of the first to get in front of the coronavirus pandemic by moving much of its youth programming online.
“We are all reeling with the changes to our daily lives and our work during this pandemic crisis,” they said in a press release back in March. “Changes like these can be a huge blow to the LGBTQ+ youth who look forward to these events [like the canceled Rainbow Ball Weekend, the largest LGBTQ+ youth event in Maine that was set to take place in May] as a time to connect with supportive peers and adults. Already suffering from isolation before the pandemic, they are particularly stressed with schools closed and enforced stays at home.”
So its staff got busy continuing with its weekly youth group via Zoom and Google classroom, and its Youth Policy Board swiftly switched its focus towards a project combating social isolation. It welcomed the young adults selected to be Junior Counselors at its cancelled Rainbow Ball to come together online to find community with each other and to dream up ways to create community despite the challenging times. All along, staff connected directly with at-risk youth through phone calls and social media platforms. More: outmaine.org
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