News & Updates

EqualityMaine Urges President Biden to Veto the FY2025 NDAA After Senate’s Passage of Defense Bill Attacking Military Families with Transgender Youth

December 18, 2024 PORTLAND, ME – EqualityMaine is alarmed and saddened by passage of the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by Congress, which includes a provision that will ban healthcare for transgender teens whose parent(s) are members of the military. We are deeply disappointed in our members of Congress, specifically Senator Collins, Senator King,…

EqualityMaine Announces Reelection of Board Leadership

October 31, 2024 Portland, ME — EqualityMaine is proud to announce the reelection of John Hennessy as President of the Board of Directors of EqualityMaine and EqualityMaine Foundation, Barb Wood as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of EqualityMaine Foundation, Melissa Martin as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of EqualityMaine,…

EqualityMaine Political Action Committee Releases Endorsements For The 2024 Election

Harris/Walz, King, Pingree, and Over 100 Legislative Candidates Receive Support PORTLAND, Maine – EqualityMaine has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz in the upcoming November election. 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…

What to know about Maine’s new fertility treatment insurance mandate

On May 2, 2022, Governor Janet Mills signed L.D. 1539, “An Act to Provide Access to Fertility Care,” which affirms that all individuals should have affordable access to fertility medical care and can pursue their dreams of building families. EqualityMaine and many others advocated for this legislation, and the law officially took effect on January…

EqualityMaine Endorses Cassie Julia in Waterville Primary

June 4, 2024 For Immediate Release EQUALITYMAINE ENDORSES CASSIE JULIA IN WATERVILLE PRIMARY Portland, ME – EqualityMaine, the state’s oldest and largest statewide organization working for LGBTQ+ Mainers, is proud to endorse Cassie Julia for House District 65 in the Maine House of Representatives.  Cassie Julia is the pro-equality candidate that has worked to pass…

EqualityMaine Foundation awarded a $12,500 grant from Maine Council on Aging through Hannaford Supermarket’s Connection, Health and Equity Through Food (CHEF) program

May 18, 2024 Portland, Maine – 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….

EqualityMaine Announces Appointment of New Board President and New Vice President

May 17, 2024 Portland, ME —EqualityMaine is proud to announce the appointment of John Hennessy as the new President of the Board of Directors of both EqualityMaine and EqualityMaine Foundation, as well as the appointment of Melissa Martin as the Vice President of EqualityMaine.  John Hennessy brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment…

Biden Administration Adds Provisions to Further Protect LGBTQ+ Students From Discrimination in Schools 

PORTLAND, Maine, April 19, 2024 — Today, the Biden Administration made several updates to Title IX rules to ensure that every student can thrive at school, as was originally intended at its inception. In the 50+ years since its enactment, opponents have sought to weaken Title IX’s crucial civil rights protections, including undoing critical safeguards against sexual harassment…

LD 227 Passes both the House and Senate and Awaits Governor’s Signature 

April 12, 2024 Augusta, Maine – After weeks of violent threats, disinformation, fear mongering and outright bullying from opposition, we are thrilled to see LD 227 pass in the House and Senate, and believe our Governor will sign this bill into law in due time. After a rocky ride for this and a similar bill through the legislature over…