Safe Schools in Maine
EqualityMaine is commited to creating positive environments for all Maine students. Every student deserves to feel safe and supported in school.
DID YOU KNOW?
- 8 in 10 LGBT youth in Maine report being verbally harassed in school based on their sexual orientation
- 6 in 10 LGBT youth report being verbally harassed based upon their gender identity
- 4 in 10 LGBT youth report being physically harassed
For more information about the climate in schools for LGBT youth in Maine, visit the 2013 GLSEN School Climate Snapshot Report.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
Maine has several laws that help support LGBT youth. EqualityMaine works closely with GLAD (GLBT Legal Advocates and Defenders) to support students’ legal rights throughout the state. GLAD has developed a great Q & A resource to help LGBT students, parents and family members know and understand their rights. Check it out HERE.
The Maine Department of Education has also created an extremely useful resource to address bullying across the state. Visit the DOE’s Bullying Prevention website.
TAKE THE PLEDGE!
EqualityMaine is currently working with several partner organizations to stregnthen protections for LGBT students. This winter, Governor LePage blocked the implemtation of rules from the Department of Education and Maine Human Rights Commission. These rules would have prrovided Maine schools distinct guidelines on how to create safer communities for their students. In absense of these rules, the Maine Human Rights Commission issued a set of guidelines as an intermediary means to provide guidance to school administrators and teachers. To view these guidelines, click HERE.
To take action and stand on the side of LGBT youth in Maine, sign our pledge of support for creating safer schools in Maine.
EQME PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
To learn more about EQME’s youth initiatives, click HERE.
To learn more about EQME’s New Leaders Project, click HERE.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
For a list of community resources for LGBT youth in Maine, visit EQME’s Youth Resources page.
SUPPORT OUR WORK!
We rely on the support of our community to continue our work to advance equality for all LGBT Mainers. By making a donation to the EqualityMaine Foundation, you will help us reach more schools and more students in our efforts to create safer schools for all LGBT youth.
