To mark the beginning of Pride Month, Maine Democratic Party Vice-Chair Bev Uhlenhake released the following statement:
“Pride is at once protest and joyful proclamation: a demand for full equality and a vibrant celebration of who we are in the LGBTQ community. As one of Maine’s first openly LGBTQ mayors, I know, too, that Pride is not limited to a single month; it is a year-round, years-long movement.
“This Pride, there is much to celebrate. Maine has its first openly gay Speaker of the House, Ryan Fecteau. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden cosponsored and voted for the Equality Act. Democrats in the Maine Legislature have blocked hateful anti-transgender bills. And for the first time in four years, we have an ally in the White House. President Joe Biden has signed Executive Orders preventing and combating discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation and repealing Trump's discriminatory ban on transgender military service. And Dr. Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health, is the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the Senate.
“At the same time, we have much to protest. The anti-transgender bills in the Maine Legislature are part of a record number of anti-transgender bills in state legislatures nationwide, many attacking transgender children and teens. Across the country, we have seen a spike in violence and discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming people, particularly people of color. And a lack of consistent non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people persists.
“This Pride Month, and every month, is a time for calling our legislators and waving our flags, signing petitions and marching joyfully, transforming injustice and spending time with those we love and those who love us. And as we do all this, may we always remember that we have so, so much to take Pride in.”
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