Our Current Agenda
In the Legislature
The 2022 legislative session is under way, and we've got several priorities! Read more about our previous wins here, and learn about our remaining priority bills below:
LD 1539 - An Act To Provide Access to Fertility Care - SUPPORT
This bill requires health insurance plans in Maine to provide coverage for fertility diagnostic care, fertility treatment, and fertility preservation services starting on or after January 1, 2023. This would greatly expand the ability of many Mainers, including those who are LGBTQ, to plan for and build their families.
EqualityMaine supports this bill; it received unanimous support in committee and has been referred to the Bureau of Insurance for a rate study
LD 1550 - An Act To End the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products - SUPPORT
This bill prohibits the sale and distribution of flavored tobacco products, including flavored cigars and electronic smoking devices. LGBTQ young adults are nearly twice as likely to use tobacco as their non-LGBTQ counterparts, and 4 out of 5 young people who use tobacco started with a flavored product. High rates of tobacco use within the LGBTQ community are not an accident; they are due to aggressive and predatory marketing efforts by tobacco companies via advertisements in our publications and product promotions and giveaways at Pride festivals and other community events. One tobacco company even gave their advertising campaign targeting LGBTQ people a special name: Project SCUM (Sub-Culture Urban Marketing). It's time to stand up to the predatory behavior of big tobacco. We can't let them get away with calling us "Scum" while getting our kids hooked on their products. It's time to end the sale of flavored tobacco in Maine.
EqualityMaine supports this bill; it received majority support in committee and awaits further action in the House and Senate
LD 1786 - An Act To Maintain Consistency among Maine's Nondiscrimination Statutes - SUPPORT
This bill makes the nondiscrimination provisions throughout the statutes consistent to prohibit discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, age or familial status.
EqualityMaine supports this bill; it will have a public hearing soon
LD 1804 - An Act To Provide Consistency in the Laws Regarding Domestic Partnership - SUPPORT
This bill provides consistency throughout the Maine Revised Statutes by enacting as a subsection in the general words and phrases statute that applies to all of the Maine Revised Statutes the definition of "domestic partner" included in the Maine Uniform Probate Code. The bill repeals all other definitions of "domestic partner." It also removes limitations on effect in the laws governing representation of a limited liability company in an eviction action without an attorney, the Maine Uniform Power of Attorney Act, the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act and the laws governing disposition of dead bodies to only those domestic partners who are registered.
EqualityMaine supports this bill; it will have a public hearing soon
LD 1900 - An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Name Changes - SUPPORT
This bill provides that notice of the filing of a petition to change an adult's name must be provided only to interested parties as required by law and that notice of a petition to change a minor's name must be provided only to any other parent, any guardian and any person or agency with legal custody of the minor; to the guardian ad litem, if any; and to the minor if the minor is 14 years of age or older. The court may limit that notice to protect the safety of the adult or minor.
EqualityMaine supports this bill; it will have a public hearing soon
In Congress
HR 5 / S 393 - Equality Act - SUPPORT
The Equality Act is a major piece of nondiscrimination law that would protect LGBTQ+ Americans nationwide. While Maine has long included sexual orientation and gender identity in state nondiscrimination law, the patchwork nature of state laws means that LGBTQ+ people are not equally protected in every state. The Equality Act would expand federal protections against discrimination to many areas of life, including housing, education, employment, public accommodations, and access to credit.
Both of Maine's Members of Congress, Rep. Chellie Pingree and Rep. Jared Golden, cosponsored the bill and voted for its passage in the House. Sen. Angus King cosponsored the Senate version of the bill. Although she has cosponsored the bill in the past, Sen. Susan Collins declined to cosponsor this version of the Equality Act.
EqualityMaine supports this bill; it passed in the House of Representatives and awaits further action in the Senate.
