News from the Pine Tree State
Chenette wins again
Former Maine State Senator Justin Chenette has become the first Millennial and only openly LGBTQ+ individual elected to serve on the York County Commission, at age 31. Back in June, he won the state primary with 83 percent of the vote and ran unopposed in the general election in November.
At 21, Chenette became the youngest openly gay lawmaker in the entire country and the youngest legislator in Maine. He went on to become the youngest state senator at age 25 and the only LGBTQ senator at the time. In total, he has served eight years in the legislature with two terms each in the Senate and House of Representatives.
“Representation matters. It is important that we elect leaders that reflect the diversity and values of our community,” says Chenette.
“Justin will bring a unique and important perspective to the county commission and ensure all residents are considered when policy decisions are made,” said Mayor Annise Parker, president and CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, in their endorsement.
Grand opening & ribbon cutting
The Equality Community Center (ECC) in Portland, Maine held their grand opening with an official ribbon-cutting and block party in October. At the event, ECC also kicked off a capital campaign to raise $1.5 million for affordable LGBTQ+ housing.
“I’m really excited to have this queer and allied space that is really focused on creating an inclusive environment,” the Center’s cofounding manager, Christopher O’Connor, told Boston Spirit earlier this year.
Reported WNTW-TV 8, “The Center will act as a hub for the LGBTQ community in the city, as well as a central location for LGBTQ advocacy groups along with other progressive groups. Tenants, such as Equality Maine, Portland Pride and Maine TransNet, have already moved in.”
The event also featured a speech by State House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, the first openly gay Speaker of any state legislature in the country.
More: eccmaine.org
A legal challenge for transgender care
A United States military veteran and his 21-year-old transgender daughter filed a lawsuit November challenging a federal statute dating back to the 1970s that prevents the daughter from accessing medical coverage because she’s transgender.
Reported the Boston Globe, “The veteran and daughter filed their lawsuit against the government anonymously via GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders [GLAD], a Boston-based advocacy group. The group’s court filing said the daughter has been denied treatments recommended by doctors due to a federal statute that dates to 1976 that mandates exclusion of surgical treatments for gender transition in the military’s medical coverage for the dependents of service members.”
More: glad.org
Expanding health care for youth
Maine Cancer Foundation has funded a one-year project to improve the health and behavioral care provided to Maine’s LGBTQ+ youth.
In partnership with the Maine chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, OUT Maine will expand the network of informed health care and mental health providers serving LGBTQ+ youth in Maine. The resources and training will provide pediatric oncology providers, pediatricians, family physicians and other child healthcare professionals who address cancer prevention with the resources and tools needed to provide affirming health care.
“The initial response from providers has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Sue Campbell, Executive Director of OUT Maine. “Positive youth interactions with pediatric oncology providers, providers who address cancer prevention, and other healthcare providers that support and integrate all aspects of identity-affirming care will have profound and long-lasting effects on the adults they will become.”
More: outmaine.org
HRC Municipal Equality Index
New England earned leading scores once again on the Human Rights Campaign’s 11th annual Municipal Equality Index.
In the Pine Tree State, Portland received 96, South Portland 71, Bangor 70, Lewiston 68, Scarborough 61, Brunswick 58, Augusta 52, Auburn 48 and Orono 32.
The index measures LGBTQ inclusivity in municipal laws, policies and services for LGBTQ people in cities and some other communities with a strong LGBTQ presence across the US. Scores are based on 49 different criteria from employment, housing, credit, education, public services, transgender health care and anti-conversion therapy laws.
More: hrc.org
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