While we don’t yet know what exactly the next four years will look like, a few things are certain: our community needs to support one another more than ever before, and take whatever steps we can to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our neighbors. We believe knowledge is power and will continue to equip you with the information you need to protect yourself.

If you need to change your name or update identity documents, there are resources to help.

Check out GLAD Law’s Transgender ID Project for guides and assistance, though there may be wait times for legal help. The American Civil Liberties Union can provide legal info on name changes and gender markers, as well as additional resources on understanding your rights.

We and our partners are prepared to challenge any attempt to reverse the Supreme Court’s 2015 marriage equality decision. Additional protections for marriage also exist at the federal level through the Respect for Marriage Act and at the state level in Maine.

Because some are worried about what could happen in the future, we want to share some steps you can take to protect your relationship. This includes preparing estate planning documents through which you can designate your spouse, partner if unmarried, or another person to make decisions for you if needed, to be the caregiver for your children, and/or the beneficiary of your assets upon your death.

Here are some important legal tools to know about, which are usually prepared with a lawyer:

  • Power of Attorney: Allows someone to make financial decisions for you if you can’t.
  • Health Care Proxy: Lets someone make medical decisions for you if needed.
  • Will: Details what happens to your property and children if you pass away.

Marriage and having both parents listed on a birth certificate offer some protections, but a court decree of parentage (like a co-parent adoption) is the strongest way to protect your relationship with your child.

Parentage is the legal ruling that gives parents rights like making medical or school decisions, getting health insurance, accessing social security or inheritance, and handling custody. For more information on the path to parentage, click here.

Here are some additional resources to help you get started:

Resources for LGBTQ+ Parents in New England

LGBTQ+ Family Law Attorney Directory

There’s concern about changes to transgender health care, but there are still strong legal protections for transgender health care in Maine. We encourage you to talk to your medical provider about any concerns or options for getting HRT in advance.

Please also consult GLAD Law’s Transgender Health Care Questions for additional guidance.

  • Protect your accounts – consider setting accounts with photos of you to private.
  • Use strong passwords.
  • Utilize a password manager.
  • Create a separate email account specifically for password recovery
  • Utilize two-factor identification for all online accounts
  • Understand the privacy and harassment policies of the sites you use. See Right to Be’s Guide to Privacy and reporting on social media platforms.
  • Limit what you share: Turn off location services (Google and Android, IOS, apps)

Go to GLAD Law’s Digital Safety Guide to learn more.

We urge you to be prepared while remembering that Maine has many protections that should remain in place even if there are federal changes. Stay connected with EqualityMaine for updated information about both legal developments and resources, and contact us at info@equalitymaine.org if you have further questions or comments.