Transgender Push In Maine Protected by State Law

Maine has a problem. In 2005, discrimination on the basis of "actual or perceived gender identity or expression" was outlawed. Now, regular people don't understand why gender-neutral bathrooms, and public library events exploring and celebrating homosexuality and transgenderism are starting to pop up. Maine's trans activists are on the march.

GLAD, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, the same group that argued for "homosexual marriage" in Massachusetts, is helping secure "transgender rights" in Maine. From their web site:

April 2 , 2007 -- GLAD Civil Rights Project Director Mary Bonauto today presented testimony in favor of proposed regulations for implementing Maine's ant-discrimination law. The law, ratified by voters in 2005, provides protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit and education. The regulations are significant in providing a working definition of gender identity and gender expression. Read Mary Bonauto's testimony.

This may soon be coming to Massachusetts. In January of February, as we've reported, the Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the "Transgender Rights and Hate Crimes Bill" H1722. Get ready.

Here's a recent story from Maine:

Controversy erupts over GLBTQ program at York Public Library
Library board member quits; donors on fence
October 31, 2007

YORK, Maine — A controversial program on homosexuality has caused the York Public Library to alter its sponsorship policy for outside groups, prompted a trustee to resign in protest and impelled donors to threaten to withhold financial support for the library.

The York Diversity Forum and York High School civil rights team on Saturday will hold the program focused on gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning people regardless....

Julie Edminster resigned from the York Public Library board of trustees because of the program. She said she has struggled to make a principled, public stand against the program, while still worrying about the backlash she expects from a "politically correct" community. "This is the type of program and tactic that was used throughout Massachusetts that enabled gay marriage to become legal," Edminster wrote in an e-mail to The York Weekly.

"The library conference rooms should only be used as meeting space, and (the library) should not take sides on any political issue by offering staffing, (public relations), and its e-mail database to the Diversity Forum," she wrote. The library, she said, is breaking its own rules "through the use of free space for at least nine-plus hours, free press releases, free space on the Web site, a free e-mail marketing campaign and free staffing support."
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