News from the Pine Tree State
National Humanities Medalist
Bethel resident Richard Blanco received the National Humanities Medal from President Joe Biden at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on March 21. He was chosen with 11 other writers, historians, educators and activists from around the country.
Blanco, previously selected by President Barack Obama to deliver his poem “One Today” at his second inauguration in 2013, is the youngest, at 45, and the first Latino, immigrant, and openly gay person to serve in the role.
In his fourth volume of poetry, “How to Love a Country,” released in 2021, he explores LGBTQ issues, and he recently cowrote the play “Sweet Goats and Blueberry Senoritas,” which premiered at Portland Stage in January.
Blanco received an honorary degree from Colby College in 2014.
On the shelves
The school board in Sullivan, Maine has decided to keep two LGBTQ books — “Queer: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens” by Kathy Belge and Mark Bieschke, and “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe — on the shelves of the Charles M. Sumner Learning Campus after a previous decision to keep them in the school guidance counselor’s office was appealed.
Reports the Bangor Daily News:
“After discussion about the content, merit and educational value of the books, the RSU 24 school board decided to keep the books in the Charles M. Sumner Learning Campus library, the Ellsworth American reported. However, the books would be kept in a section of the library designated for high school students.
“A number of board members felt that the information contained in the books were valuable resources for students to learn about safe and healthy sexual behavior and relationships, but the information was more suitable for older students, according to the Ellsworth newspaper,” reports BDN. “Kobabe’s book ranks among the most challenged books available in school and public libraries, according to the American Library Association.”
Youth support
Thanks to generous support from the Pull Up Fund, OUT Maine — the statewide LGBTQ+ youth organization based in Rockland — is expanding its school climate initiative, which focuses on growing the number of Maine schools committed to being inclusive and welcoming for all marginalized youth.
OUT Maine is doing this by supporting schools through various methods, including revising policies or procedures, providing professional development for educators and administrative staff, supporting Gay/Straight/Trans Alliances (GSTAs), and workshops for students.
Many of Maine’s rural LGBTQ+ youth do not have access to public transportation, teen-centered community gathering spaces, or resources. These youth are too familiar with isolation and the resulting depression and anxiety, especially if families are unsupportive.
“This project has provided invaluable perspectives from young people regarding their intersectionalities and how all the parts that make them whole are celebrated and honored in their schools and communities,” says OUT Maine’s Program Director, Katie Lutts.
More: outmaine.org
‘History of drag and Queer joy’
In mid-March, students at Deering High School in Portland hosted an optional after-school talk by two drag queens about “the history of drag and queer joy.”
According to NBC-TV News Center Maine, the event drew a small number of protesters and a much larger group of counter protesters, supporting the students and the speakers.
“For young people to see that there are queer people in their own community and they’re being themselves, I think that can be really inspiring,” one of the two speakers, Chartreuse Money, who did not dress in drag for the talk, told News Center Maine. Money said she told the students about the history of drag from the 1800s to today. “It went over so well,” Money told News Center. “I think it’s important to know that drag and queer people specifically have always been here.”
In a statement the student organizers of the event said, “It is deeply upsetting that this student-initiated event got so much hate from adults, mostly with no affiliation to the Portland community. I am grateful to live in a district that really supports their LGBTQ students, and didn’t just back out. In the wake of the mass anti-trans and anti-drag legislation, it is important for members of the LGBTQ community, especially youth, to connect to their community and learn about their history. The backlash on social media just heightens the importance of having events like these.”
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