Maine Becomes 17th State To Ban 'Ex-Gay Therapy'

Maine has become the 17th state to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’ for minors.

The legislation prohibits state-licensed counselors, psychologists, social workers, health professionals, guidance counselors and pastoral therapists from engaging in the harmful practice of trying to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Lawmakers in Maine passed a similar bill last year, but the legislation was vetoed by former Republican Gov. Paul LePage. His veto made him the only governor in the U.S. to veto a ban on conversion therapy.

Today, however, Gov. Janet Mills enthusiastically signed the bill into law saying in a statement, “Conversion therapy is a harmful, widely-discredited practice that has no place in Maine.”

“By signing this bill into law today, we send an unequivocal message to young LGBTQ people in Maine and across the country: we stand with you, we support you, and we will always defend your right to be who you are,” she added.

Today I signed into law a bill banning conversion therapy, a widely-discredited practice that has no place in Maine. Today, we send an unequivocal message to young LGBTQ people: we stand with you, we support you, and we will always defend your right to be who you are. pic.twitter.com/heInzibvFJ

— Governor Janet Mills (@GovJanetMills) May 29, 2019

Conversion therapy has been widely denounced by leading professional medical associations including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association.

Studies have shown that the harmful practice can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness, and suicide.

The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth, is invested in ending conversion therapy in every state.

Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project, applauded Maine's efforts to help LGBTQ youth.

“After the disappointment of last year's veto, they came back stronger and passed legislation to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangers of conversion therapy," said Brinton in a statement. "We will continue to push each and every day to insure that every state in the country follows Maine's example and ends this cruel practice once and for all."

Podcast: Pop-Star and Pro-Soccer Player Come Out, Plus How Trump's SCOTUS Pick Could Affect Marriage Equality

In this week's podcast:

• The governor of Maine becomes the first in the nation to veto an 'ex-gay therapy' ban

• An Ohio congressman is accused of turning a blind-eye to sex abuse

• Starbucks expands healthcare for transgender employees

• New Jersey adopts new trans rights

• Ohio lawmakers want teachers to snitch on trans students

• How Trump’s new Supreme Court could affect marriage equality

• Pro soccer player Collin Martin comes out

• And Panic! At the Disco’s' Brendon Urie comes out

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report podcast.

Maine Governor Becomes 1st In Nation To Veto "Conversion Therapy" Bill

Maine Gov. Paul LePage

What a jackass.

Maine Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed legislation that would have protected LGBTQ youth from the harmful practice of so-called “conversion therapy.”

In doing so, LePage becomes the first governor in the United States to veto such legislation.

The vetoed bill, LD 912, would have prohibited the advertising, offering or administering conversion therapy to individuals under 18 years of age in Maine as an unfair trade practice, penalizing mental health workers who engage in the practice with loss of their license.

Included in the bill was a carve-out for members of the clergy as long as they didn’t receive any monetary compensation.

LePage told state lawmakers in a statement he was concerned about the ‘religious liberty’ of parents to decide how and if their children are exposed to the dangerous practice.

This isn’t LePage’s first trip to the anti-LGBTQ rodeo.

In 2016, LePage famously left a profanities-laced voicemail message for a political opponent that included the use of the anti-gay slur “cocksucker.”

To date, 14 states - Connecticut, California, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont, New York, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Washington, Maryland, Hawaii, New Hampshire - plus Washington, D.C. have enacted legislation to ban the widely discredited practice of “ex-gay” therapy.

Even in his own party, the Republican governor is woefully out of step.

GOP governors in New Jersey, Illinois, New Mexico, Nevada, Maryland and New Hampshire have understood the dangers “conversion therapy” can have on young people.

Mainstream medical organizations including the American Psychological Association, the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have all denounced the practice.

The Maine bill passed in the state House by 80-55 and in the Maine Senate 19-12 in a special legislative session last month.

LGBTQ advocacy organizations are calling for state lawmakers to override the governor’s veto.

Marty Rouse, HRC National Field Director, issued a statement which read, in part, “Governor LePage’s shameful decision to veto this life-saving legislation leaves Maine’s LGBTQ youth at risk of being subjected to a practice that amounts to nothing less than child abuse.”

“These crucial protections are supported by a bipartisan majority, and have been signed into law in a growing number of other states by both Democratic and Republican governors -- including by the Republican governor in neighboring New Hampshire mere weeks ago.”

“With this inexcusable decision, Governor LePage has become the only governor in the nation to veto legislation protecting young people from this abuse, solidifying his place in history’s hall of shame.”

Janson Wu, executive director of GLBTQ Advocates & Defenders, called LePage’s veto a “heartless and dangerous action” that leaves LGBT lives at risk.

“Gov. LePage had an opportunity to protect Maine youth from these harms, and to ensure parents are not misled into subjecting their children to an unsafe and ineffective so-called ‘treatment,'” Wu said.

“Instead, the governor has sent a signal that the risk of hurting LGBTQ youth is acceptable.”

News Round-Up: June 4, 2018

(image via Instagram)

Some news stories you might have missed:

• Loving this new InstaHunk account find - Muscle_Woof (above). #WoofWoof

• A local veteran in a small Maine town has a big problem with a rainbow flag flying during Pride Month calling the show of LGBT support a "travesty."

• Researchers in Australia have found a direct correlation between low cognitive ability and folks who hate gays.

• Promising news from the National Institutes of Health - a new experimental HIV vaccine has been shown to neutralize dozens of HIV strains from around the world.

• Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt asked a top aide to purchase a “used mattress” from the Trump International Hotel for him...?

• UK trio Clean Bandit dropped their new self-directed music video for their single “Solo” featuring Demi Lovato released earlier this month which garnered over 20 million streams during its first week.

The song is a paean to "self-love" (solo, get it?) and even better, the story resolves with a rainbow-furred dog. What's not to like? Hit the play button below :)

News Round-Up: April 13, 2018

Carson Jones, son of Alabama Sen. Doug Jones

Some news items you might have missed:

• Alabama Senator Doug Jones has become the 46th co-sponsor to The Equality Act, which seeks to add ‘sexual orientation and gender identity’ protections to existing civil rights laws. Jones says his (hottie) openly gay son Carson's coming out helped shape his political views on LGBTQ rights.

• The city of Columbus, Indiana, which just happens to be virulently anti-gay Vice President Mike Pence's hometown, will celebrate its first-ever LGBT Pride Festival tomorrow.

• Amazon video just got that much more gay as the streaming giant has just added dozens and dozens of LGBTQ films that screened at Outfest in L.A. to Amazon Prime.

• A recent report by Goldman Sachs analysts pointed out that curing diseases doesn't make nearly as much money for Pharma companies as creating drugs that treat (but don't cure) chronic illnesses. The statement adds fuel to the conspiracy theory that should cures for diseases like AIDS might be discovered, they might be withheld in favor of "treatment" drugs.

• The Maine House of Representatives has approved legislation that would protect LGBTQ youth from so-called "ex-gay therapy."

• It appears Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, liked to record conversations with associates. Folks in TrumpLand are worried some of those recordings which might have been included in the Monday raid on Cohen's offices, contain material damaging to Trump.

• Olympian Adam Rippon opened last night's GLAAD Media Awards by calling his bestie Gus Kenworthy onstage and explaining, "I've had such a big year, but my biggest achievement so far is finally getting Gus to come out of his shell. Four years ago he was afraid to kiss his boyfriend after he won silver in Sochi. Now, he's unleashed."

Gus agreed saying, "Literally, I'll kiss anybody." And with that laid a big smooch on Adam.

Watch below.

Maine Gov. LePage: "Overwhelming Majority" Of Drug Dealers Are People Of Color

Maine Gov. Paul LePage attempts to rebuke the idea that he's a racist by blaming people of color for his state's war on drugs:

“Look, a bad guy is a bad guy, I don’t care what color it is. When you go to war, if you know the enemy, the enemy dresses in red and you dress in blue, you shoot at red, don’t you?”

“You shoot at the enemy. You try to identify the enemy. And the enemy right now, the overwhelming majority right now coming in are people of color or people of Hispanic origin. I can’t help that. I just can’t help it. Those are the facts."

How do you think he did?

Of course, this comes a day after he called a state legislator a "cocksucker" for having a different opinion.

He seems like an interesting guy, huh?

Maine Gov. Paul LePage Goes On Gay Slur Rant To State Democratic Legislator

Maine Gov. Paul LePage is getting attention this morning after a recorded phone call he made has come to light.

In the phone call, made to Democratic State Rep. Drew Gattine on Thursday, the bombastic Republican ripped off a series of gay slurs in an angry rant.

Via CNN:

"Mr. Gattine, this is Gov. Paul Richard LePage," the audio recording says. "I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you (obscene term). I want to talk to you. I want you to prove that I'm a racist. I've spent my life helping black people and you little (obscene term), socialist (obscene term). You -- I need you to -- just friggin'. I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you. Thank you."

It may come as no surprise that LePage is an ardent supporter of Donald Trump.

In an interview today, the governor also said if this were 1825 he would challenge Gattine to a duel and shoot him between the eyes.

He seems nice, huh?

Maine Gov. Paul LePage leaves profanity-laced voicemail for state lawmaker https://t.co/95VimG2MUO https://t.co/xu5kUswtgY

— CNN (@CNN) August 26, 2016

Maine: National Organization For Marriage Finally Files Donor List With Total Of Six Names

NOM president Brian Brown

After a five year legal battle, and paying a record $50,000 fine, the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage has finally handed over it's donor list as ordered by the courts to the Maine Ethics Commission.

In 2009, the organization funneled over $2 million to the anti-gay Stand for Marriage Maine political action committee, which supported a referendum to overturn a same-sex marriage law passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Baldacci.

A later referendum in 2012 reinstated marriage equality.

NOM has tried to by-pass state campaign finance laws regarding the 2009 campaign, and has refused to file their donor list.

Until now. Having run out of options to avoid the inevitable, NOM has given up.

From the Bangor Daily News:

The donor list includes a mix of in- and out-of-state donors who gave NOM between $50,000 and $750,000 in individual donations. The largest donor was Sean Fieler of New York City, who is the president of Chiaroscuro Foundation and gave a total of $1.25 million.

The only donor listed from Maine was Richard Kurtz of Cape Elizabeth, who gave $50,000. There are only six names on the list, plus about $5,300 of “unitemized contributions.”

That's quite the "national" organization, huh? Only SIX donors.

And only one from Maine.

Gee, Brian Brown, I can't imagine why there were all those calls of "out of state interference."

National Organization For Marriage Loses AGAIN In Court

The virulently anti-gay National Organization for Marriage has lost yet again in it's efforts to hide their donor list from their campaign against marriage equality in Maine.

From LGBTQ Nation:

Maine’s ethics commission fined the National Organization for Marriage $50,250 last year for violating the state’s campaign finance laws and ordered it to file a campaign finance report that would reveal who supported the 2009 referendum that struck down Maine’s gay marriage law.

The group sought to delay filing of the report, pending the outcome of its appeal in court of the commission’s decision.

But the Maine Supreme Court denied that request Tuesday, saying it’s unlikely that NOM will be successful in its appeal.

Brian Brown, president of the group, said he believes NOM is being unfairly targeted because of its views on marriage.

Did Maine Just Move Closer To The First Openly Gay US Governor?

This election cycle, Maine has been entrenched in a three way race for governor. The incumbent Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud have been locked in a very tight race, with Independent candidate Eliot Cutler polling at about 13 points.

Today, Cutler held a press conference where he stopped short of quitting the race but did make clear to voters that should they not think he can win on election day to “vote their conscience."

In other words, go with the guy who can win.

In that Cutler is a left-leaning candidate (former environmental lawyer and worked under the Carter Administration), most believe his support would go to Michaud. Should Michaud win, he would become the United States' first openly gay governor.

While the November 4 elections look bleak in many ways for Democrats, it could be history making for the LGBT community.

Fingers crossed.

Maine: National Organization for Marriage fined $50K for illegal anti-gay donations

The state of Maine has fined the virulently anti-gay National Organization for Marriage more than $50,000 for violating the state’s campaign finance laws.

More from LGBTQ Nation:

The Maine Ethics Commission on Wednesday also ordered the National Organization for Marriage to file a campaign finance report that would reveal the donors who supported the 2009 referendum that struck down the state’s gay marriage law.

A lawyer for NOM said that it would file an appeal in state court.

NOM gave nearly $2 million to the political action committee Stand for Marriage Maine, which represented 64 percent of the PAC’s funds. Groups must register as ballot question committees if they raise or spend more than $5,000 to influence a state ballot question.

NOM argues that since the money wasn't specifically raised for the Maine fight the organization did not have to register or file reports.

Interesting how NOM tells Maine what Maine law is...

Maine: State House votes down religious-based "license to discriminate against gays" bill

Today, after hours of debate, the Maine House rejected  LD 1428, “An Act to Protect Religious Freedom," following similar activity by the Maine Senate.

The vote was 89-52.

Rep. Andrew J. McLean, told the House that the legislation, LD 1428, “An Act to Protect Religious Freedom” actually denies religious freedom.

Rep. Justin Chenette, who at 22 is the youngest openly-gay legislator in America, talked eloquently and vehemently about how the bill would affect him. “Religious freedom is important, but this bill makes me feel like a second-class citizen… Name me an issue in Maine — I still haven’t heard one.”

“There isn’t an issue. This is a bill searching for a problem, rather than solving one,” Chenette told his colleagues. “This wastes taxpayer money… It’s fiscally responsible to oppose it.”

More at The New Civil Rights Movement

Maine Congressman Mike Michaud comes out - "Yes, I am. But why should it matter?"

Rather than let a "smear campaign" that implied he was gay, and that there was something wrong with that, succeed, Rep. Mike Michaud of Maine, who is currently running for governor of the state, decided to come out in editorials running in newspapers across Maine today. That means there are now seven out lawmakers in the House, plus Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

"I wasn’t surprised to learn about the whisper campaigns, insinuations and push-polls some of the people opposed to my candidacy have been using to raise questions about my personal life," he wrote in a column published by the Bangor Daily News, the Portland Press Herald and the Associated Press. "They want people to question whether I am gay. Allow me to save them the trouble with a simple, honest answer: 'Yes, I am. But why should it matter?'"

Michaud went on to write in his column that "my personal life has never factored into how I do my job" and "that’s certainly not going to change if I’m elected governor." He still doesn't feel the need to provide personal details, despite holding public office, writing:

"Growing up in a large Franco-American Catholic family, it’s never been in my nature to talk about myself. I write this now merely to let my opponents and the outside interests who fund them know that I am not ashamed of who I am. And if seeing someone from my background, in my position, openly acknowledge the fact that he’s gay makes it a little bit easier for future generations to live their lives openly and without fear, all the better."

(via Out.com)

Maine: Former President George HW Bush serves as witness at same-sex marriage

(Courtesy of Helen Thorgalsen and Bonnie Clement)

The Washington Post is reporting that former President George HW Bush was an official witness at a same-sex marriage this past weekend:

Another prominent Republican has come out in support of same-sex marriage — or at least, in support of one particular same-sex marriage. Former President George H.W. Bush served as an official witness this past weekend at the Maine wedding of Bonnie Clement and Helen Thorgalsen, co-owners of a Kennebunk general store. Thorgalsen posted a photo of the 41st commander-in-chief signing a set of documents for them at an outdoor celebration: “Getting our marriage license witnessed!”

No big statement from the ex-prez’s office. His rep Jim McGrath confirmed his and wife Barbara’s presence at the wedding: “They were private citizens attending a private ceremony for two friends.”

This is sure to drive the conservative blogosphere insane...

(via JMG)

Same-sex couples getting married in Maine describe their spouses in one word

Last Friday, Sam Ferrigno of HooplaHa.com, traveled up to Portland to witness some of Maine’s first same-sex marriages. He approached 14 couples with sketch pads, asked them to write how long they’ve been together and to describe each other with one word.

Just one sample: Steven Jones (left) and Jamous Lizotte, two men who might go down in history as the first gay, wreath-crowned couple to get married in Maine.

Lots more joy from the happy day at HooplaHa.com

 

Maine: Same-sex marriage begins!

The first five same-sex couples who arrived to get marriage certificates walk up the steps of Portland City Hall (Maine) on Friday, December 28, 2012.

They begin to get officially married tomorrow, Saturday the 29th!

Update: First couple to get married under new marriage equality law - “We finally feel equal and happy to live in Maine,” Steven Bridges told the Bangor Daily News after marrying Michael Snell. Same-sex couples can now marry in Maine.

Maine to begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses 12/29

On December 29th, Maine will begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses:

According to the Office of the Secretary of State, the certified election results for the state were signed off on by Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday, Nov. 29. The new law becomes effective 30 days from that date.

“The long wait for marriage for same-sex couples in Maine is almost over,” said Betsy Smith, the executive director of EqualityMaine. “Before the end of this year, all loving and committed couples in Maine will be able to stand before their friends, family and community and make a lasting vow to be there for one another.”

On Nov. 6, Maine became the first state to allow committed same-sex couples to receive a marriage license through a popular vote of the people.

(via press release)

States to reap income windfall from marriage equality

JoeMyGod points out an Associated Press report on the three states about a boom in business due to same-sex weddings:

Add the coast of Maine, the banks of the Chesapeake Bay and the shores of Lake Washington to gay wedding destinations.

Next month and in January, laws go into effect in Maine, Maryland and Washington that allow same-sex marriage. They're the first states where voters approved such laws, rather than legislators or courts. Nearly 18,000 same-sex couples in those states will exchange vows in the first three years after the new laws are in effect, estimated The Williams Institute, a national think tank at the UCLA School of Law, and the laws should generate at least $166 million in wedding spending in the three states over the next three years from in-state couples alone, boosting tax revenues and creating new jobs.

Wedding-related spending for in-state couples is projected be about $16 million in Maine, $63 million in Maryland and $89 million in Washington. The numbers go up when figuring in out-of-staters who travel to those states to be wed.

When marriage equality begins in Washington, Maryland and Maine

Thanks to the American Foundation for Equal Rights, here is the timeline for implementing the recently passed marriage equality initiatives:

• Maine: December 6 at the earliest. This date may change. The initiative goes into effect 30 days after the governor makes a “public proclamation of the result of the vote,” within 10 days after the result has been determined.
• Maryland: January 1, 2013. This date was included in the original legislation passed by the state’s General Assembly, which was approved by voters.
• Washington: December 6. All referendums that are approved by voters in the Evergreen State go into effect 30 days after the election.

A response from the US Supreme Court on Prop 8 and DOMA challenges is expected November 26th.

Maine: Marriage equality supporters get the good news on election night

Very, very cool and moving.

The scene was very similar in my house on election night, even if it was just Michael, the dogs and I.

Celebrate, kids. Celebrate.

(via JoeMyGod)