News from the Pine Tree State
Over 100 endorsements
In September, EqualityMaine came out with a slate of over 100 endorsements of candidates for the General Election on Nov. 5.
Mainers looking for a guide to pro-LGBTQ+ candidates on their ballots could look no further than equalitymaine.org/endorsed-candidates-2024.
Topping the list were Vice President Kamala Harris and Minn. Gov. Tim Walz for the US Presidential and VP ticket.
“From the beginning of her career, Vice President Harris has fought to protect the freedom of LGBTQ+ Americans to love who they love and be who they are, openly and with pride,” says the Equality Maine endorsements announcement. “Governor Walz is a career-long champion for LGBTQ+ Americans as a teacher, GSA advisor, Congressman and governor.
“Equality is on the ballot in every race in this election, and our community stands ready to defend our rights and our families.”
Representing at the DNC
When the Democratic National Convention gathered in Chicago, approximately one third of the delegates from Maine will be identifying as LGBTQ+, according to a report by Maine Morning Star.
“Due to the stakes of this election, I think for Americans from all walks of life, and particularly those who have been historically marginalized, those who feel the temperature rising on their safety and their rights to exist in our society, I think that that’s been a major motivation for getting involved in this election,” state Rep. Ryan Fecteau, Maine’s first openly gay Speaker of the House, told the Star. “I think we really feel the significance of this moment.”
Network for Older Adults
EqualityMaine Foundation was the recipient of a $12,500 grant from Maine Council on Aging (MCOA) through Hannaford Supermarket’s Connection, Health and Equity Through Food (CHEF) program. CHEF was launched in 2023 to improve the health and well-being of diverse older adults through greater access to food and social connection.
With this grant funding, EqualityMaine’s Network for Older Adults is launching a monthly Bangor Luncheon and has added a monthly gathering in Ellsworth. Hundreds of LGBTQ+ older adults in these areas now have increased access to community and food through monthly meals, which are being funded in part through the CHEF grant.
CHEF was launched with a $1.3 million donation to Maine Council on Aging from Hannaford on December 12, 2023, under the banner of Hannaford’s “Eat Well, Be Well–A Path to Better Health” initiative. The CHEF program funds organizations and projects in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York, that are supporting the needs of diverse older adults—including improving access to food and increasing opportunities for socialization.
More: equalitymaine.org
OUT Maine scholarships
OUT Maine awarded scholarships to four Maine students for the 2024–’25 school year, totaling over $42,000 in coverage of college tuition and housing costs.
The scholarships are renewed each year to meet recipients’ unique financial needs for every year they attend a higher education institution.
Two of the four students are second-year college students, the other two first year students.
Ty Delong and Sasha Saedan are sophomores at Bennington College in Vermont, and second year recipients of OUT Maine’s scholarship.
Rose Chaloult, hailing from Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, is now a freshman at St. Michael’s College in Vermont benefitting from a scholarship from OUT Maine. Hunter Hillard is a graduate of Traip Academy in Kittery attending Southern Maine Community College as a first-year student.
More: outmaine.org
Welcoming Kiana
Also at OUT Maine, a new administrative coordinator joined the team.
Says OUT Maine, “Kiana Joler graduated from Keene State College in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, focusing on multimedia as well as biology. She loves engaging with the community and creating connections in Rockland and throughout the state. She is an avid ally and is super excited to expand her advocacy work in her role. Outside of work, she can be found walking her crazy (but adorable) dog, reading, playing video games, or taking ridiculously long flights (the limited legroom is worth a beautiful destination). [
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!
