News from the Pine Tree State
‘Any level of progress’
Former Maine State Senator Justin Chenette, who now serves as York County Commissioner, spoke with NBC News Center Maine about the FDA’s recent draft guideline that would permit men to no long abstain from sex with another man for three months before donating blood. (After a 60-day period for public comments, the FDA must still give the guidelines a final review.)
“We’ll take any level of progress,” he told News Center Maine. “I do think that this policy still perpetuates outdated stereotypes, and stigmas and discriminatory practices.”
The new policy still requires donors to answer a questionnaire geared to evaluate HIV risk factors. “It’s still predicated on the honor system,” Chenette explained. “I could go in, and tell them what they want to hear and still donate blood. That doesn’t inspire confidence and safety, or transparency.”
Said Gia Drew, executive director of Equality Maine, “We’re excited that this process is gender inclusive, trans-inclusive, and really isn’t about your sexual orientation. It’s more about who you are and what your behaviors are.”
Hate crime stats
The number of hate crimes against LGBTQ Mainers outpaced the national rate in 2021, according to a new report released by the FBI.
Reports Bangor Daily News, “The number of hate crimes reported in Maine dropped slightly last year after exploding in 2020, but a greater portion in the state target LGBTQ residents than in the rest of the nation, according to new data released by the FBI.
“In Maine, the FBI said it received data from 129 of 132 police departments, a higher rate than the two-thirds of departments that reported data nationally.
“The most common hate crimes in Maine targeted Black people and members of the LGBTQ community. There were 35 incidents involving anti-Black or anti-African American bias last year and 24 that involved anti-LGBTQ bias, according to the data. There were six hate crimes reported that targeted Jewish Mainers, and three that targeted people because of their gender identity.
“Thirty-two percent of Maine hate crimes targeted LGBTQ residents, higher than the national rate of 16 percent.”
Save the date
Equality Maine’s 38th annual awards celebration, “Express Yourself,” will take place from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, in downtown Portland. The evening will include live performances, raffles, drinks, dancing and much more.
More: equalitymaine.org
Seaton helms arts center
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Newcastle has a new executive director.
Liz Seaton, a long-time civil right leader and lifelong potter, comes to Watershed directly from the National LGBTQ Task Force where they served as Policy Director, working for racial justice and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer liberation.
“We are thrilled to bring Liz to Watershed,” says Bernie Toale, the organization’s Board President. “Their non-profit acumen and proven leadership will serve Watershed and the clay community well. Importantly, the Board and staff voted unanimously to select Liz as Watershed’s next Executive Director. Their passion for the arts combined with their executive talents; commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); and artist residency experience is exactly what Watershed needs for its promising future. We warmly welcome Liz to Maine and to the Watershed community.”
HRC equality index leader
Maine — along with the other five New England states — earned tops scores on Human Rights Campaign’s most recent State Equality Index.
This index delivers a comprehensive state-by-state report on laws and policies that affect LGBTQ+ people and their families across the country. Scores are broken down into the following categories: Active Laws & Policies; Parenting Laws; Hate Crimes & Criminal Justice Laws; Non-Discrimination Laws; Religious Refusal & Relationship Recognition; Youth Laws; and Health & Safety Laws.
Find out how the Pine Tree State scored in each at hrc.org/resources/state-scorecards.
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