News from the Pine Tree State
Best practices for LGBTQ+ youth support
As of 2019, 20 percent of Maine’s high school teens identify as LGBTQ+, according to the 2019 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey. This is just one example, says OUT Maine, that demonstrates there are more LGBTQ+ youth in the Pine Tree State than ever before, and these kids, like all kids, need to be accepted and supported for who they are.
And so the Rockland, Maine-based youth nonprofit has created a free guidebook called “Best practices for LGBTQ+ inclusive youth programming.” It’s a training resource with concrete action steps for ensuring inclusive and welcoming programming for LGBTQ+ young people, and it’s full of insights that transcend the boundaries of any one state.
“Nearly all of the youth programs surveyed indicated that helping youth find themselves and feel supported in their adolescence were essential program elements, “says OUT Maine. “It is important that day and residential programs for youth provide all participants with equal opportunity for this kind of growth, regardless of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity or expression. LGBTQ+ youth particularly need this kind of support.
More: www.outmaine.org.
A teaching opportunity
In early February, Portland, Maine’s school board approved a resolution aimed to turn a spate of threatening letters into a teaching opportunity.
According to the Portland Press Herald, in January eight complaints had been made to the police by recipients of the letters, which “contained an image of a rainbow pride flag with the Satanic Temple logo on it, along with a threatening message that contained a slur against gay people.”
Reports the Press Herald, “Because the eight recipients of the threatening letters each flew a gay pride flag or a Black Lives Matter flag on their properties, the board, as part of a resolution being drafted, also would like to see “pride stickers, posters, flags and other queer-positive images in the classrooms and elsewhere in our schools.”
“The board at a workshop [a week before the vote] discussed [creating the] resolution that “commits to rooting out homophobia in our schools, creating a LGBTQ-positive culture, and ensuring that LGBTQ students see themselves in the curriculum.” The resolution encourages teachers and staff to “engage in age-appropriate conversations with students about the recent incidents to bring these injustices to light.”
MaineTransNet survey
MaineTransNet is asking any transgender resident 18 and older to participate in a survey.
Their 2021 Maine Transgender Community Survey is designed to capture both general information and details about the experiences of transgender people currently living in Maine. Data from this survey will help guide MaineTransNet’s and their partner organizations’ work toward creating a world where all transgender people can thrive.
The survey will take most people 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
Participants may also enter in a raffle with 11 prizes, including a grand prize of $500.
MaineTransNet is a community-based organization led by transgender people for transgender people that provides peer-to-peer support groups, social and community events, advocacy for the transgender community across Maine and cultural competency training for medical, mental health and social service providers.
More: mainetrans.net/survey
HRC Best Place to Work
Hannaford Supermarkets held onto its top ranking on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index. The Scarborough-based corp’s perfect score of 100 comes with the distinction of “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.”
“We are proud to have received this recognition from HRC for the ways in which we create safe and welcoming environments for our associates and customers alike,” said Jim Hamilton, Hannaford’s Vice President of Operations and Executive Sponsor of Hannaford’s Diversity and Inclusion Council.
“This accomplishment acknowledges the work we do each and every day to celebrate differences and respect each other’s lived experiences.”
HRC’s Corporate Equality Index is the national benchmarking tool on policies and practices pertinent to LGBTQ employees. Criteria include nondiscrimination policies, equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families, support for inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility.
More: hrc.org/resources/corporate-equality-index
Not a subscriber? Sign up today for a free subscription to Boston Spirit magazine, New England’s premier LGBT magazine. We will send you a copy of Boston Spirit 6 times per year and we never sell/rent our subscriber information. Click HERE to sign up!
