University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons Equality News Periodicals Summer 2006 Equality News (Summer 2006) Matthew R. Dubois Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/equality_news Part of the American Politics Commons, American Studies Commons, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons Recommended Citation Dubois, Matthew R., "Equality News (Summer 2006)" (2006). Equality News. 8. https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/equality_news/8 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Periodicals at USM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Equality News by an authorized administrator of USM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Advocacy for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Communities since 1984 PO Box 1951, Portland, ME 04104 • 207-761-3732 • fax 207-828-8620 • [email protected] • www.equalitymaine.org Journey for Full Equality Begins Now or the past 28 years, EqualityMaine invested heavily in securing non-discrimina­ tion protections for LGBT people. Maine voters finally delivered those protec­ Summer 2006 F tions at the ballot box on November 8, 2005. On November 9, EqualityMaine went back to work to begin investing heavily in full equality. With no LGBT legislation or referenda in 2006, we have had a unique opportunity to think critically about how to invest our time and resources over the next 3-5 years. We determined that a long-term effort to achieve full equal­ ity begins with a short-term plan of building a strong and solid foundation. Looking ahead, the conservative right will undoubtedly continue their attacks on the LGBT community. While they may have been stung by their defeat in 2005 Get Involved! our opponents, both locally and nationally, are energized like never before. The pen­ dulum is swinging our way and our opponents are well aware that time is not on See back cover their side. To turn back the clocks on LGBT equality, they know they must do it for volunteer now. It is almost certain that in the 07-08 legislative session we will see another opportunities attempt to amend Maine's constitution to deny marriage equality to same-sex cou­ ples. We've defeated this amendment twice before, but this time may be different. With the non-discrimination law now safely on the books and out of their reach, our opponents will ratchet up their efforts to pass this anti-family, anti-equality amendment. They'll undoubtedly find friends where on non-discrimination legisla­ tion they found foes. That is, unless we out-organize and out-educate them on the importance of full equality. We need to become as energized about full equality as our opponents are about denying us full equality. In order to secure full equality, including the right to marry, we'll have to continued on page 5 EqualityMaine volunteer leader Niki Norman leads Full Equality. 1 a training on door-to­ Strategic Plan. 2 door canvassing. Volun­ teers recently canvassed EQME Logo wear .... 2 in South Portland on full Enforcing ND Law.... 3 equality for LGBT fami­ Marriage in Mass ..... 4 lies. Over 53% of voters Baldacci Fundraiser . 6 they spoke with support · Annual Banquet .... 8, 9 full marriage rights for lesbian and gay couples. Annual Report ..... 10-12 PRIDE .......... 14 Volunteer Opps . 16 EqualityMaine Exclusive Logowear et your EqualityMaine logowear now! Wear equality on your sleeve-or on your Gchest, your coffee and your car. Whether you're 9 months or 99 years old, we have comfortable and classy logowear to fit your fancy. Items include: Classic T-Shirts Hooded Sweatshirts Sleeveless T-Shirts Bumper Stickers Long Sleeved T-Shirts Coffee Mugs Tank Tops Infant/Toddler T-Shirts Spaghetti Tanks Baby Bibs Shop at our online store at www.equalitymaine.org or call CafePress at 1-877- 809-1659 to order your EqualityMaine merchandise today. Each purchase benefits EqualityMaine. • EqualityMaine Board Approves Strategic Plan qualityMaine's Board of Directors Eapproved an updated strategic plan for the organization at their quarterly board meeting in April. Chair of the strategic planning committee, Shannon Banks (R in photo to left), presents the plan to the board, while board member Vickey Zavasnik looks on. The plan generated lively discussion about the organization's strategic objec­ tives in working for full equality. In photo below, board member Dan Crewe gives his feedback on the plan, while program director Darlene Huntress (L) and vice-president Barb Wood listen. Every board member weighed in and the plan received unan­ imous approval. • 2 Enforcing Maine's Non-Discrimination Law aine has torn down two of three barriers in provid­ especially knowledgeable in this area in order to clarify Ming non-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, the information. bisexual and transgender people. The first was getting a Employers, as an example, are not required to pro­ non-discrimination bill passed through the Maine Legisla­ vide separate bathrooms for transitioning employees, but ture, which we did with strong margins in both chambers. rather should allow employees to use the bathrooms that Governor Baldacci signed the bill on March 31, 2005. correspond to their gender identity (gender identity refers The second barrier was upholding the law when it to one's self-identification as a man or woman, as went to voters as a People's Veto referendum question on opposed to one's anatomical sex at birth, whereas gender November 8, 2005. By a margin of 55 to 45 percent, expression refers to how society views and interprets Mainers voted to keep the law on the books. (After 28 one's gender identity). This policy is easier to enforce years, the law finally went into effect on December 28.) when all bathrooms have stalls that lock, allowing Having passed and upheld a non-discrimination law employees privacy. Employers can also provide gender­ should guarantee that LGBT people are now secure in neutral bathrooms as long as they are not in isolated their workplaces, housing, educational settings and in places in the company, for safety reasons, and are within public accommodations. However, there is a third barrier a comfortable walking distance from working areas. that must be addressed before LGBT people are truly The second step in enforcing the law is to ensure that secure-ensuring that the law is enforced and if it isn't, the Maine Human Rights Commission is equipped to that LGBT people have appropriate recourse. deal with complaints about LGBT discrimination. Patri­ EqualityMaine, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defend­ cia Ryan, executive director of the Maine Human Rights ers (GLAD), and the Maine Civil Liberties Union are Commission, is a long-time supporter of the non-dis­ teaming up to monitor the enforcement of the new law. crimination law and her staff is trained on the new law The first step in enforcing the law is ensuring that and specifically on gender identity and gender expression. employers, property and public accommodation man­ Last December, they were preparing to issue regulations agers, bankers, educational administrators and others and guidelines on the new law. Provided they are not affected understand the law, what it requires, and their understaffed, LGBT people can be assured that when fil­ responsibility to abide by it. This is being done through ing a complaint of discrimination at the Maine Human training. Pat Peard, in her position as employment law Rights Commission, they will receive the best of care. attorney for Bernstein, Shur in Portland, has developed Another step we will take is ensuring that LGBT peo­ training materials on the new law and has conducted ple ourselves understand the law and that we know what training for many of their clients. Other law firms are to do if we are discriminated against. There are two gen­ doing the same. eral scenarios and each scenario requires a different pro­ One of the challenges for employers has been under­ cess. Regardless of the scenario, please contact Equality­ standing the terms "gender identity and gender ·expres­ Maine to share your circumstances. It is essential that we sion" and what will be required of them to abide by this continue collecting information about discrimination. We part of the law. Gender identity and gender expression are can be contacted at 207-761-3732, or info@equality­ terms that people, some in our own community, are only ma.1ne.org. slowly coming to understand. Therefore, trainers must be The first scenario is if the discrimination has already Continued on page 7 Fatha Tom, ULC Ordained SUSAN FARNSWORTH ATTORNEY AT LAW WEDDINGS, CIVIL UNION CEREMONIES, CUSTOMIZED RELATIONSHIP BLESSINGS G/UB/T-friendly General Practice of Law Law Offices in Hallowell, Maine RELAX, UNWIND &: ENJOY LIFE! Tel. 207-626-3312 E-mail: [email protected] 207,64 2, 3828 3 Massachusetts Supreme Court: No to Out-of-State Couples n March 30, 2006, the Supreme Judicial Court of behalf of couples from those two states to prove that OMassachusetts (SJC) issued a complex decision in they are fully qualified to marry in Massachusetts. The its ruling on the antiquated 1913 law that prevented ongoing court proceedings will ultimately clarify out-of-state same-sex couples from marrying in Mas­ whether New York and Rhode Island same-sex cou­ sachusetts. In Cote-Whitacre v. Department of Public ples may marry in Massachusetts (as well as the status Health, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders of any already-entered Massachusetts marriage by a (GLAD) challenged the state's restrictions on mar­ same-sex couples from those states). GLAD is contin­ riages of out-of-state same-sex couples. uing to evaluate the decision to determine whether Despite agreeing with GLAD that the 1913 law was couples from some other states will be able to meet being used in a blatantly discriminatory fashion, the that eligibility test as well.