أخبار

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The complaint, filed by GLAD on behalf of a 78-year-old woman who was denied a room by Sunrise Assisted Living because she is transgender, is the first such legal claim of discrimination brought in the U.S. against a senior long-term care facility.

October 21, 2021, AUGUSTA – GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) today filed a discrimination claim with the Maine Human Rights Commission on behalf of a 78-year-old woman who was denied a room by Sunrise Assisted Living in Jonesport, Maine because she is transgender. It is the first known discrimination complaint filed in the U.S. by a transgender older adult against a long-term care facility. The complainant is being represented by GLAD attorneys Ben Klein, Chris Erchull and Mary Bonauto. In the spring of 2021, the complainant, who is being identified publicly as Jane Doe, was admitted to Pen Bay Medical Center for an acute medical emergency. Once Ms. Doe’s health was stabilized, the medical staff determined she did not require in-patient care and needed placement in an assisted living facility. A hospital social worker contacted Sunrise Assisted Living on Ms. Doe’s behalf and was told they had rooms available. Upon learning that Ms. Doe is transgender, however, the Administrator at Sunrise informed the hospital they would not admit Ms. Doe because they were concerned she wanted to reside in a room with a female roommate, despite the fact that Sunrise regularly places women in semi-private rooms with other women. The claim brought by GLAD on Jane Doe’s behalf asserts that Sunrise discriminated against Ms. Doe on the basis of her gender identity, transgender status, and her sex, all explicitly protected under the Maine Human Rights Act. “Our client, like many older people, urgently needed an assisted living facility like Sunrise,” said المحامي الكبير في GLAD بن كلاين. “She simply wants to be treated with dignity, compassion and understanding as she ages, like anyone else. Maine, like 21 other states, has added gender identity to its nondiscrimination laws precisely to address this kind of discrimination and the profound harm transgender people like Ms. Doe experience when it occurs.” “The people of Maine are known for making room at the table,” added GLAD Staff Attorney Chris Erchull. “Sunrise lost that perspective by excluding Ms. Doe because of who she is. This lawsuit reinforces the core values of long-term care providers: that all of us are entitled to dignity and respect as we age. Being denied a room at Sunrise because she is transgender also forced Ms. Doe to remain in the hospital longer than was recommended by her medical team.” “I just wanted to be treated like a human being,” said Ms. Doe. “I don’t want anybody else to be turned away for care they need because they are transgender. I want people to understand we are people living our lives as best we can and they can’t do that to somebody.” Research indicates that transgender older adults are as likely as or even more likely than other older adults to require long-term care, including assisted living, because a long history of exclusion and lack of care leads to adverse health consequences. Yet as Ms. Doe’s case exemplifies, transgender adults continue to face systemic and widespread discrimination when seeking care and support as they age. GLAD Civil Rights Project Director Mary Bonauto, a Maine attorney, added, “We get that not everyone knows transgender people and some have discomfort. In the end, this case is about common-sense values: how would we want to be treated, and how do we treat each other? Care providers in long term care facilities know how to welcome in and treat people from all walks of life with courtesy and respect. That’s all this woman asked for, and that is what the law requires.” تعرف على المزيد حول Doe v. Sunrise Assisted Living.

أخبار

بيت » مين » Page 9

Maine Youth Justice (MYJ), the ACLU of Maine, and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) are calling on Governor Mills to act with urgency to close Maine’s only youth prison.

The call comes after revelations that guards at Long Creek used a dangerous restraint, known to create a risk of serious injury or death, on multiple occasions last month to subdue incarcerated young people.

Last session, MYJ led the effort to pass LD 1668 — a bill to develop a plan to close Long Creek and divert resources to community-based services — in the state legislature, which the ACLU and GLAD supported.

LD 1668 passed in both chambers of the legislature, but Governor Mills vetoed the bill.

Leyla Hashi, communications coordinator, Maine Youth Justice

“This is yet another example of why closing Long Creek is long overdue. No youth prison will keep Maine’s communities any safer, and Long Creek consistently exacerbates a cycle of extreme harm against our most vulnerable youth. There is no fixing it. There is no reforming it. We need to SHUT this facility DOWN.

“We urge Maine state legislators and the governor to take action to close Long Creek. One more day is too long to wait as kids in Long Creek continue to suffer physical and psychological trauma from the cruel realities of incarceration.”

Alison Beyea, executive director, ACLU of Maine

“These revelations are the latest in a series of unconscionable acts of violence against young people detained at Long Creek. The entire project of incarcerating young people is violent, and it must end now. Children do not belong in prison.

“Governor Mills had the opportunity to close Long Creek earlier this year by signing LD 1668 into law. But she vetoed the bill, saying it didn’t account for public safety. We disagree. Long Creek’s continued operation degrades public safety. Incarceration traumatizes young people, especially LGBTQ youth and youth of color who are overrepresented at Long Creek.

“Public safety means no kids in prison. It means kids receiving the help and support they need, close to home, so that they can lead thriving lives. Despite her veto, Governor Mills has the power to close Long Creek. She should use it.”

ماري بونوتو، مديرة مشروع الحقوق المدنية في GLAD

“Reports issued to the State on conditions at Long Creek in 2017 and again in 2020 highlighted concerns regarding the use of restraints, absent or inconsistent staff training, and the failure of the adults to use de-escalation techniques and bring in mental health counselors rather than force. It was not long ago that the State settled an excessive force case brought by the ACLU of Maine on behalf of an 11-year-old who had his face slammed into a metal bed frame by correctional officers. These young people are entrusted to the care of the State of Maine.

“For any number of reasons, and despite good faith efforts by many involved, Long Creek is not working and not providing rehabilitation. The legislature agreed in the last session, as shown by the passage of LD 1668, which set out a years-long plan for closing Long Creek and justly transitioning workers employed there. These concerns remain, and the State needs to provide immediate oversight to end this brutal treatment now.”

تعرف على المزيد حول Maine Youth Justice و اتحاد الحريات المدنية في ولاية ماين.

Wins for Transgender Equality as the Maine Legislative Session Ends

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Proposals targeting transgender girls and women for exclusion in sports and shelters were both defeated in the 2021 session

GLAD, Equality Maine, MaineTrans.Net, ACLU ME, ME Women's Lobby

July 20, 2021 (AUGUSTA) – The Maine Senate adjourned for the session last night without taking up a proposal that would have banned transgender girls from participating in school sports (LD 926), thereby killing the measure. The House voted against the bill in June before the recess. A separate bill (LD 1238) that would have allowed shelters to turn away transgender women or any woman because of their race, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation was also voted down in both the House and Senate in June.

EqualityMaine, MaineTransNet, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), ACLU of Maine, the Maine Women’s Lobby, and the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics issued the following statements heralding the defeat of both measures:

Gia Drew, Program Director at EqualityMaine: “Once again Mainers have stood up for fairness by saying no to harmful proposals that would ban transgender girls from school sports and deny transgender women access to shelter and vital social services. As students, parents, coaches, and pediatricians testified, transgender girls who play sports simply want and deserve the same opportunity as their peers to be part of a team, to feel like they belong, and to develop important qualities like leadership, self-respect, and teamwork. The Maine legislature has sent a message to transgender kids that they belong.”

Quinn Gormley, Executive Director, MaineTransNet: “I’m proud to see our Maine legislators support inclusion for transgender girls and women. I know well from my own work in the community that transgender women experience some of the highest rates of housing insecurity, harassment, and violence among women in Maine. There is always more work our state can do to ensure our social service networks can fully support all women in times of need, but in defeating LD 1238 the legislature recognized that allowing shelters to turn away some of our most vulnerable community members is counter to that goal.”

Meagan Sway, Policy Director, ACLU of Maine: “It’s a relief to see the legislature stop these misguided bills targeting transgender girls and women. Efforts to ban trans girls from participating in girls’ sports jeopardize their mental health, physical well-being, and ability to access education opportunities similar to other students. Efforts to ban trans women from shelters would deny shelter to some of our most vulnerable community members when they need help the most. Today our state has once again affirmed the truth: all children and adults, including trans children and trans people, belong in Maine.”

ماري إل. بونوتو، مديرة مشروع الحقوق المدنية في GLAD “We all care about equity and opportunity for girls, but banning transgender girls from all programs and activities from pre-k through college is only about exclusion. We are happy that the legislature saw the proposed sports ban as a red herring that would generate no new opportunities for cisgender girls but would inflict real harm on transgender young people. Maine has had transgender athletes participating in sports for years, including under a 2013 policy for interscholastic sports of the Maine Principals’ Association. Allowing young people to develop and grow as people through participating in sports is good for them and when they are stronger, our communities are, too.”

Destie Hohman Sprague, Executive Director, Maine Women’s Lobby: “With these votes, the legislature affirmed a simple fact: every Mainer deserves to live with safety and respect. For those who experience abuse or housing insecurity, community organizations help fill that gap. Organizations that exist to ensure that safety are exactly the right places to welcome and affirm trans Mainers, and there is no place for legislation in our state that does not guarantee the rights of everyone to live in dignity, free from abuse.”

Dee Kerry, Executive Director, The Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics: “We applaud the state legislature for upholding the rights of transgender children to be able to play on teams according to the gender they live in. The vast majority of youth this bill would have harmed are school-age children who just want to play on a sports team and have fun. As pediatricians, we will always stand up for the health and well-being of all children and advocate for their right to live full and healthy lives. The trend of anti-transgender legislation being introduced and enacted across the nation is alarming and Maine legislators have shown that discrimination has no place in our state.”

At a public hearing on these bills on May 6, transgender youth and their families, nontransgender student athletes, coaches, pediatricians, school administrators, shelter service providers, social workers, community advocates, and more all provided powerful testimony against the proposed transgender student sports ban and exclusionary shelter bill:

Lane J., Kittery high school sophomore and soccer player: I absolutely love the sport of soccer. I have played on girls’ soccer teams for the last 5 years. Playing soccer has always been the highlight of my day each summer and fall: it’s my opportunity to work out, to collaborate with other girls with the same passion, and just have fun. I have been completely accepted by my coaches and teammates. Please don’t deny other transgender girls the opportunity to have these experiences, and the ability to be on a team, having fun, being active, and learning about sportsmanship.

Dr. Michele LaBotz, sports medicine doctor for over 20 years: The participation of transgender girls in girls’ athletic teams does not disadvantage their teammates. Athletic performance depends upon many factors including physiological, mental, and social. The best practice for student-athlete development is when success is based upon the growth of athletic skill of a team or individual, rather than attempts to eliminate rightful participants due to concern about the possible loss of performance advantage.

Gianna Romano, Assistant Coach and former high school athlete: [If transgender girls were banned from girls’ sports when I was playing] I may not have been able to play at all. At the time, our numbers were declining and we needed anyone and everyone willing to try the sport out. In a time where schools are being forced to combine teams and co-op for different sports, I am perplexed as to why we would even be considering a law that would make it even more challenging to attract participants.

Ali Lovejoy, VP of Social Work, Preble Street: To say that we must choose either the safety of cisgender women or the safety of transgender women is a false choice…The impact of this bill would be to systematically exclude women – women who experience higher rates of trauma, violence, and homelessness – from the most basic resources necessary to stay alive.

Andrea Mancuso, Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence: We know from decades of experience that perpetuating discriminatory policies against any group of identity does not increase safety in shelter programs. Any disruptive behavior that might occur at a shelter can be dealt with under existing shelter policies that apply to all residents equally.

Equality Maine works to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Maine through political action, community organizing, education, and collaboration. www.equalitymaine.org

MaineTransNet is Maine’s transgender community organization dedicated to supporting and empowering transgender people and those that love them. www.mainetrans.net

ACLU of Maine is the state’s guardian of liberty. It is active in the courts, the legislature, and the public sphere to defend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and to extend their promises to all Mainers. www.aclumaine.org

من خلال التقاضي الاستراتيجي، والدعوة للسياسات العامة، والتثقيف، تعمل منظمة GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders في نيو إنجلاند وعلى المستوى الوطني لإنشاء مجتمع عادل خالٍ من التمييز على أساس الهوية الجنسية والتعبير عنها، وحالة الإصابة بفيروس نقص المناعة البشرية، والتوجه الجنسي. www.gladlaw.org

The Maine Women’s Lobby engages in legislative advocacy which increases the health, wellness, safety, and economic security of women and girls in Maine, and all Mainers who experience gender-based discrimination or oppression. www.mainewomen.org

مدونة

بيت » مين » Page 9

في يوم التبرع هذا العام، نودّ أن نشكر جميع داعمينا على دعمهم لنا طوال العام. كما نودّ أن نشارككم حبّكم من خلال تشجيع داعمي GLAD على التعرّف على المجموعات التي تقوم بأعمال مهمة بالقرب منكم.

تضم القائمة التالية بعضًا من شركائنا في نيو إنجلاند ومنظمات أخرى نود تسليط الضوء على أعمالها المبتكرة. نتقدم لكم بامتناننا العميق، فلم نكن لنتمكن من إنجاز هذا العمل لولاكم.

مشروع المساحات المؤكدة

نيو هامبشاير

سيخدم مشروع "المساحات الإيجابية" (ASP)، المقرر إطلاقه في أغسطس 2021، مجتمع المتحولين جنسيًا وذوي الميول الجنسية غير التقليدية في نيو هامبشاير، وذلك بشكل رئيسي من خلال ربط الأشخاص ذوي الميول الجنسية غير التقليدية بالشركات والخدمات المحلية التي تدعمهم. كما يخطط المشروع للمساهمة في التثقيف المجتمعي والدعوة.

التبرع لمشروع المساحات المؤكدة

ذئب ري

رود آيلاند

تأسست منظمة "كويوت"، التي تعني "تخلص من أخلاقك القديمة المملة"، عام ١٩٧٣ على يد مارغو سانت جيمس، التي رفعت دعوى قضائية جماعية عام ١٩٧٩ لإلغاء تجريم العمل الجنسي داخل المنازل في رود آيلاند، وفازت بها. استأنفت "كويوت" نشاطها عام ٢٠١٠ ردًا على تجريم الدعارة بالكامل في رود آيلاند عام ٢٠٠٩، وهي تحالف يضم عاملات جنس حاليات وسابقات، يدافعن عن حقوقهن الإنسانية والصحية والعمالية والمدنية في رود آيلاند وفي جميع أنحاء البلاد.

التبرع لـ Coyote RI

الزاوية الثقافية لكامور

هارتفورد، كونيتيكت

أسست الناشطة كامورا هيرينجتون ركن كامورا الثقافي (KCC)، الذي يُعنى بفناني مجتمع الميم السود ووجهات نظرهم، مُنشئةً مساحاتٍ لبناء المجتمع والتعافي والتواصل من خلال الفن الكويري الأسود. في نوفمبر 2020، نظمت KCC جولة "الفن الأسود للشفاء" لعرض أعمالها الفنية في جميع أنحاء الجنوب الشرقي.

تبرع للركن الثقافي لكامورا

ماين من الداخل إلى الخارج

بورتلاند، مين

تُنظّم منظمة "مين إنسايد آوت" (MIO)، التي تأسست عام ٢٠٠٨، برامج مسرحية في مركز تنمية الشباب في لونغ كريك، وهو مركز إصلاحي للشباب في ولاية مين. وتواصل المنظمة إشراك الشباب بعد خروجهم من لونغ كريك من خلال المشاركة المجتمعية، ودعم الأقران والبالغين، والمناصرة التي يقودها المشاركون، وتنمية المهارات القيادية، وبناء المهارات العملية.

التبرع لـ Maine Inside Out

في العراء

براتلبورو، فيرمونت

"في العراء" حركة عدالة اجتماعية متعددة القضايا، تجمع أفراد مجتمع الميم في المناطق الريفية لبناء مجتمعهم، والتعريف بهم، والمعرفة، والقوة. في العام الماضي، نظمت "في العراء" شبكة دعم رعاية مجتمعية ريفية لتقديم الدعم المتبادل لمجتمع الميم في المناطق الريفية في ولاية فيرمونت خلال جائحة كوفيد-19.

التبرع لـOut in the Open

متوفر الآن

سبرينغفيلد، ماساتشوستس

أُسست منظمة "آوت ناو" عام ١٩٩٥، وهي تُوفر مساحةً آمنةً لشباب مجتمع الميم للتعرف على أنفسهم واستكشاف تاريخ حركة مجتمع الميم، مع تطوير مهاراتهم القيادية. تشمل برامج "آوت ناو" العديدة ورشة عمل "تحريرنا! مسرح المضطهدين".

تبرع الآن

الأخوات المتحررات

جامايكا بلين، ماساتشوستس

تأسست منظمة "أخوات بلا قيود" عام ٢٠١٥ على يد أيانا أوبورغ، وميرون تيكليهايمانوت، وفانيسا لي، وهي توفر مساحة آمنة لبنات الأمهات السجينات سابقًا وحاليًا للتعافي وتحقيق تغيير اجتماعي جذري. "أخوات بلا قيود" منظمة مناهضة للعقوبة في السجون، تدعم بدائل مجتمعية للسجن.

التبرع لمؤسسة Sisters Unchained

شبكة TGI في RI

بروفيدنس، رود آيلاند

تأسست شبكة TGI عام ٢٠١١، وهي تخدم سكان رود آيلاند المتحولين جنسياً وخنثى الجنس وغير المتحولين جنسياً (TGI) من خلال الدعم والتوعية والتثقيف. تقدم الشبكة حالياً ثلاث مجموعات دعم بقيادة الأقران للأشخاص الذين يطرحون أسئلة، والأشخاص غير المتحولين جنسياً، وأحبائهم.

التبرع لشبكة TGI في RI

الحاكم ميلز يوقع على مشروع قانون حق العدالة الأحداث في الحصول على محامٍ والإجراءات القانونية الواجبة

بيت » مين » Page 9

وقد وقع الحاكم ميلز LD 320 قانون لتوفير الحق في الحصول على محامٍ للأحداث وتحسين الإجراءات القانونية الواجبة لهم يُطبّق القانون الإصلاحات اللازمة على النظام القانوني للأحداث في ولاية مين، والتي من شأنها أن تُجنّب الأطفال الصغار السجن، وتضمن لهم، عند سجنهم، وجود مُدافع عنهم، قادر على التعبير عن مخاوفهم وطلب دراسة مُعمّقة لظروفهم.

سيمنح مشروع القانون رقم 320 الشبابَ المعنيين بالعدالة حقَّ الاستعانة بمحامٍ عند الاحتجاز، وحقوقَ الإجراءات القانونية الواجبة للبحث عن بدائل للاحتجاز. ويحدد القانون سنًّا أدنى للإيداع في مؤسسة إصلاحية للأحداث بـ 12 عامًا، وينص على أنه لا يجوز احتجاز الأطفال الأصغر سنًّا لأكثر من 7 أيام إلا بموافقة محاميهم. يُنهي مشروع القانون شرطَ الإيداع في مؤسسات إصلاحية للأحداث لمدة عام واحد، ويُلزم القضاة بمراعاة سنَّ الشاب وما إذا كانت الجريمة المرتكبة تُعتبر جنحة أحداث عند اتخاذ قرار بشأن ما إذا كان الاحتجاز مناسبًا. وقد قدّمت مشروع القانون النائبة فيكتوريا موراليس من جنوب بورتلاند، ممثلة المنطقة التي تضم مركز تنمية الشباب في لونغ كريك.

أصدرت ماري إل. بونوتو، مديرة مشروع الحقوق المدنية في GLAD، البيان التالي الذي أشادت فيه بتوقيع مشروع القانون:

من أسمى واجباتنا كمجتمع رعاية ودعم الشباب. هذه خطوة للأمام في تقليص دور نظام العدالة الجنائية في حياتهم. يسعى القانون رقم 320 إلى الحد من استخدام الحبس الآمن لأصغر أطفال ولاية مين، ويوفر لجميع الشباب المسجونين تمثيلًا قانونيًا للحصول على الرعاية والفرص والدعم الذي يحتاجونه ليكونوا مسؤولين، ويشفوا، وينموا بطرق صحية. يُقرّ هذا القانون بأن الإجراءات العقابية ضارة وعكسية لهذه الأهداف وللسلامة العامة. يُزجّ عدد كبير جدًا من شباب مجتمع الميم، والشباب الملونين، والشباب ذوي الإعاقة، والشباب ذوي الموارد المالية المحدودة، والشباب المنتمين إلى جميع هذه الفئات، في نظام الإصلاحيات، مما يؤدي إلى عواقب غير مقصودة ولكنها خطيرة على المدى الطويل. في أغلب الأحيان، يتورط الشباب في النظام بسبب جرائم بسيطة، وبسبب عدم وجود خدمات مجتمعية قائمة لإبقائهم في مجتمعاتهم وتواصلهم مع أسرهم ومدارسهم. لقد تلقينا العديد من التقارير التي تُفصّل الآثار السلبية للسجن على الأطفال ومجتمعاتهم، بالإضافة إلى توصيات لما يجب على ولايتنا القيام به. لمعالجة هذه الآثار. يُعدّ هذا القانون خطوةً إيجابيةً لدفع ولاية مين قُدُمًا وتمكين الشباب من النجاح في تبوُّء مكانتهم في مجتمعاتنا.

كما أدلت منظمة GLAD بشهادتها دعمًا لمشروع القانون رقم 1668، وهو مشروع قانون بقيادة هيئة عدالة الشباب في ولاية مين، من شأنه تحديد جدول زمني لإغلاق لونغ كريك على مدى سنوات، وتوفير انتقال عادل لموظفي الولاية، وإعادة تخصيص الموارد للرعاية الصحية والتعليم والتوظيف وفرص السكن للشباب. وقد أقر المجلس التشريعي مشروع القانون رقم 1668، لكن الحاكم نقضه.

تعرف على المزيد حول LD 320.

أخبار

بيت » مين » Page 9

June 18, 2021 (AUGUSTA) – Yesterday the Maine legislature voted down a proposal (LD 1238) that would have allowed women’s shelters across the state to turn away transgender women or any woman they wanted to – whether because of their race, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

A second proposal targeting transgender girls for exclusion from school sports was voted down 80-53 in the House late last night, and is still pending a vote in the Senate when the legislature reconvenes June 30. That bill received strong opposition at a May public hearing from coaches, pediatricians, transgender youth and their parents and peers, as well as Maine officials and organizations, including the Attorney General, former Chief Justice Leigh Saufley, the Maine Principals’ Association, and the Human Rights Commission.

Shelter service providers, community service and justice organizations spoke out against the shelter bill (LD 1238) and are applauding the legislature’s actions to support inclusion of transgender women, and all people, in need of survival and emergency services.

“Once again Mainers have stood up for fairness by saying no to harmful proposals that would deny transgender women access to shelter and vital social services. Shelters across our state play a critical role in providing safety to women in need. Turning transgender women away from shelters puts those women at risk of exactly the type of mistreatment and abuse our shelter services are meant to prevent,” said Gia Drew, Program Director at EqualityMaine.

“I’m proud to see our Maine legislators support inclusion for transgender women. I know well from my own work in the community that transgender women experience some of the highest rates of housing insecurity, harassment and violence among women in Maine. There is always more work our state can do to ensure our social service networks can fully support all women in times of need, but in defeating LD 1238 the legislature recognized that allowing shelters to turn away some of our most vulnerable community members is counter to that goal,” said Quinn Gormley , Executive Director, MaineTransNet.

“It’s a relief to see the legislature stop this misguided bill that targeted transgender women and would have opened the door to discrimination in shelters on the basis race, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation as well. Efforts to ban trans women from shelters would deny shelter to some of our most vulnerable community members when they need help the most. Today our state has once again affirmed the truth: all people, including trans people, belong in Maine,” said Meagan Sway, Policy Director, ACLU of Maine

“We know we can accommodate all women, transgender or not, when they are in need of emergency and homeless shelter because, as legislators heard at the hearing on LD 1238, the dedicated individuals who staff and run our shelters have been doing just that. Managing the stress and conflict that can occur when individuals are experiencing trauma, vulnerability and less privacy and autonomy is some of the hard work performed by shelter staff and management. Women seek out shelter services when they are at their most vulnerable, whether due to trauma, houselessness, or violence. With this vote our legislators affirmed the inclusion required by law, and also what shelter providers said at the hearing: that all women, including transgender women, deserve access to survival services. This is the record we’ve built in Maine; we treat all humans with dignity and respect,” said Mary L. Bonauto, Civil Rights Project Director at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders

“With this vote the legislature affirmed a simple fact: every Mainer deserves to live with safety and respect. For those who experience abuse or housing insecurity, community organizations help fill that gap. Organizations that exist to ensure that safety are exactly the right places to welcome and affirm trans Mainers, and there is no place for legislation in our state that does not guarantee the rights of everyone to live in dignity, free from abuse,” said Destie Hohman Sprague, Executive Director, Maine Women’s Lobby

المساواة في ولاية مين works to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Maine through political action, community organizing, education, and collaboration. www .equalitymaine.org

MaineTransNet is Maine’s transgender community organization dedicated to supporting and empowering transgender people and those that love them. www.mainetrans.net

اتحاد الحريات المدنية في ولاية ماين is the state’s guardian of liberty. It is active in the courts, the legislature and the public sphere to defend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and to extend their promises to all Mainers. www.aclumaine.org

من خلال التقاضي الاستراتيجي، والدعوة إلى السياسات العامة، والتثقيف، المحامون والمدافعون القانونيون عن المثليين ومزدوجي الميل الجنسي ومغايري الهوية الجنسية تعمل في نيو إنجلاند وعلى المستوى الوطني على إنشاء مجتمع عادل خالٍ من التمييز على أساس الهوية الجنسية والتعبير عنها، وحالة الإصابة بفيروس نقص المناعة البشرية، والتوجه الجنسي. www.gladlaw.org

The Maine Women’s Lobby engages in legislative advocacy which increases the health, wellness, safety, and economic security of women and girls in Maine, and all Mainers who experience gender-based discrimination or oppression. www.mainewomen.org

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18 يونيو 2021 (أوغوستا) - رحبت منظمة المدافعين القانونيين عن المثليين ومزدوجي الميل الجنسي ومغايري الهوية الجنسية (GLAD) اليوم بالخبر الذي يفيد بأن الحاكمة جانيت ميلز قد وقعت على مشروع القانون رقم 1115، قانون لتحسين الوصول إلى أدوية الوقاية من فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية، أيّ توسيع نطاق الوصول إلى دواء بسيط وآمن وفعال يُعرف باسم العلاج الوقائي قبل التعرض لفيروس نقص المناعة البشرية (PrEP)، والذي يقلل من خطر انتقال الفيروس بما يقارب 100%. وقد حظي مشروع القانون، الذي رعته السيناتور هيذر سانبورن من كمبرلاند، وشارك في رعايته رئيس مجلس النواب رايان فيكتو، والسيناتوران نيد كلاكستون ونهتان ليبي، بدعم من الحزبين. وكانت منظمة GLAD عضوًا في الائتلاف الذي عمل على إقرار مشروع القانون، وأدلت بشهادتها في المجلس التشريعي.

يُخوّل القانون الجديد الصيادلة صرف أدوية الوقاية قبل التعرض (PrEP)، بالإضافة إلى العلاج الوقائي بعد التعرض لفيروس نقص المناعة البشرية (HIV) دون وصفة طبية لفترة قصيرة. كما يُقلل القانون من عوائق الحصول على العلاج الوقائي قبل التعرض (PrEP) من خلال إلزام شركات التأمين بتغطية دواء واحد على الأقل للوقاية من فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية دون تصريح مسبق أو علاج تدريجي، ومن خلال تدوين الشرط التنظيمي الفيدرالي في قانون ولاية مين، والذي يقضي بتوفير شركات التأمين الخاصة للعلاج الوقائي قبل التعرض (PrEP) دون دفع رسوم إضافية. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، من خلال إلزام الصيادلة بربط العملاء بالرعاية الطبية للإشراف المستمر على العلاج الوقائي قبل التعرض (PrEP) والاحتياجات الصحية الحيوية الأخرى، سيُحسّن القانون أيضًا الوصول العام إلى الرعاية. تُعدّ ولاية مين ثالث ولاية في البلاد تعتمد مثل هذا التشريع، مما سيسمح للفئات الأكثر ضعفًا، بما في ذلك المجتمعات الريفية في مين، بالحصول على العلاج الوقائي قبل التعرض (PrEP) بسرعة.

"إن العلاج الوقائي قبل التعرض (PrEP) يوفر لنا أفضل فرصة لإنهاء وباء فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية"، كما قال بن كلاين، المحامي الأول في GLAD ومدير مشروع قانون الإيدزمع ذلك، ورغم ثبوت سلامته وفعاليته، لا يزال العلاج الوقائي قبل التعرض (PrEP) غير موصى به وغير مستغل بالشكل الكافي، لا سيما بين الفئات السكانية التي لا تزال تعاني من تفاوت في فرص الحصول على الرعاية الصحية، مما يزيد من خطر إصابتها بفيروس نقص المناعة البشرية. يساهم هذا القانون بشكل كبير في إتاحة الوصول إلى العلاج الوقائي قبل التعرض (PrEP) ويساعدنا في القضاء على وباء فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية.

وأضاف: "يجعل هذا القانون ولاية مين رائدة في ضمان إمكانية الوصول إلى العلاج الوقائي قبل التعرض (PrEP) وكذلك العلاج الوقائي بعد التعرض لفيروس نقص المناعة البشرية (PEP) لجميع المحتاجين إليه والذين يمكنهم الاستفادة منه". زميل GLAD للقانون أنتوني لومباردي، من شهد بالنيابة عن منظمة GLAD في جلسة الاستماع التشريعية، قال: "سيزيد القانون من فرص الحصول على العلاج، لا سيما لسكان المناطق الريفية ومجتمعات الملونين، حيث تُبقي العوائق الهيكلية، بما في ذلك التفاوت الاقتصادي وعدم المساواة في الموارد والعنصرية المنهجية، الناس عُرضةً لزيادة خطر الإصابة بفيروس نقص المناعة البشرية وتدهور النتائج الصحية بشكل عام".

في بيان موقف المجتمع لدعم التشريعوقد أوضح أكثر من 30 منظمة ومدافعًا ومتخصصًا طبيًا تأثير توسيع نطاق الوصول إلى الوقاية قبل التعرض:

ببساطة، يُعدّ العلاج الوقائي قبل التعرض لفيروس نقص المناعة البشرية (PrEP) نقلة نوعية في مجال الوقاية من الفيروس؛ فهو حبة يومية بسيطة وآمنة تُقلّل من خطر انتقاله بنسبة تقارب 100%. يُعدّ الحصول على هذا الدواء بتكلفة منخفضة أو مجانًا عبر أي وسيلة سهلة ومتاحة أمرًا بالغ الأهمية للفئات الأكثر ضعفًا بيننا، بما في ذلك الأشخاص ذوو البشرة الملونة، وسكان المناطق الريفية، والمسجونون، ومتعاطو المخدرات عن طريق الحقن والذين يسعون جاهدين للحفاظ على سلامتهم. يُعدّ العلاج الوقائي بعد التعرض لفيروس نقص المناعة البشرية (PEP) تدخلًا دوائيًا هامًا وضروريًا بنفس القدر، يُقدّم فورًا بعد التعرض المحتمل للفيروس، بما في ذلك في حالات الاعتداء الجنسي. علينا بذل كل ما في وسعنا لتوسيع نطاق الحصول على العلاج الوقائي قبل التعرض/بعد التعرض، وإيجاد المزيد من السبل للحد من انتقال الفيروس.

بالإضافة إلى GLAD، فإن التحالف الذي يدعو إلى تمرير قانون لتحسين الوصول إلى أدوية الوقاية من فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية متضمن المساواة في ولاية مين, مركز فراني بيبودي، و تحالف المساواة الصحية.

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GLAD Applauds Update to Maine Law Allowing Expanded Access to Voluntary Acknowledgments of Parentage

Governor Mills Signs LD 222, An Act to Update the Maine Parentage Act

June 11, 2021 (Augusta) — Governor Janet Mills has signed LD 222, قانون لتحديث قانون الأبوة والأمومة في ولاية ماين. The law updates Maine’s parentage statute to expand access to Voluntary Acknowledgments of Parentage (VAP), a simple mechanism long available to establish parentage but previously inaccessible to many parents, including LGBTQ parents, in Maine. Federal law requires all states to provide a simple civil process for acknowledging parentage of a child at birth. This ensures that the protections and responsibilities of parentage attach as soon after birth as possible and ensures that both parents are reflected on a child’s birth certificate. A majority of children born to unmarried parents in the U.S. each year have their parentage established through a VAP, which is the equivalent of a court decree of parentage. A VAP is signed voluntarily and helps parents avoid the expense, delay and stress of litigation to establish parentage. LD 222, drafted by the Family Law Advisory Commission and introduced by lead sponsor Rep. Barbara Cardone, expands access to VAPs so that more children can be protected by this simple, administrative procedure. Genetic parents have always been able to establish parentage through a VAP, and this law expands access to that intended parents through assisted reproduction and presumed parents can sign VAPs to establish parentage of their children. Expanded access to the Voluntary Acknowledgments of Parentage is recommended by the Uniform Parentage Act of 2017. The UPA is model statutory language developed by the non-partisan Uniform Law Commission to ensure state parentage laws are constitutional and provide equal access to the security of legal parentage to all children, without regard to the gender or marital status of their parents. FLAC recommended substantially updating of Maine’s parentage laws in 2015, assisted by Mary Bonauto and others, and the legislature approved that recommendation and recognized through the Maine Parentage Act (MPA) the many ways in which families are formed. Although the MPA provided equal recognition of LGBTQ parents, it did not include access to VAPs. This bill updates Maine law to reflect the recommendations of UPA 2017 and to ensure greater access to parentage for children. “Having a secure legal relationship to their parents is fundamental to a child’s wellbeing and stability, and this update to the law makes that security accessible to more children in Maine,” said Polly Crozier, GLAD Senior Staff Attorney. “The VAP program is a straightforward means of establishing a child’s legal parentage from birth. Extending access to VAPs provides a fair, equitable and affordable means for LGBTQ parents to protect their children as close to birth as possible.” To date in addition to Maine, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington all allow LGBTQ parents to establish parentage through a VAP. Connecticut recently enacted the Connecticut Parentage Act that will make VAPs available to LGBTQ parents as of January 1, 2022. More information about VAPs can be found here.

Alternative Discipline, Not Criminal Punishment, in Maine Schools

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GLAD opposes Maine’s LD 1444 because it creates a new crime that would have serious and long-term negative effects on young people.

In testimony to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, GLAD and EqualityMaine explained that the bill “…creates a crime that will have disastrous collateral effects for young people over their lifetimes and will not accomplish its goals in any event. The anti-bullying law enacted in 2011 recommends that schools consider “alternative discipline” rather than school exclusion or criminal penalties for addressing the consistent bullying of socially marginalized students. Other bills before the Legislature rightly seek to explore the uses of restorative processes to promote responsibility and accountability without exclusion from school or channeling young people into the criminal system.”

Instead, we would “like to see dedicated, enhanced, and creative efforts to build schools as zones of mutual respect that help prepare students for success in a diverse and ever-changing world and in which teachers and staff can support student learning and development.”

Read GLAD and EqualityMaine’s full testimony.

Addressing Discrimination Complaints in Maine Schools

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GLAD supports the goals of LD 1512, which would create an Office of the Education Ombudsman, which would serve as a resource and facilitate complaints for parents and students in the Maine’s public school system. The bill also directs the Department of Education to establish a commission to explore possible reporting and response systems to help public schools address reports of discrimination and harassment.

Read testimony delivered by GLAD and EqualityMaine.