PORTLAND, MAINE - On Thursday October 27th, The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine will honor A transgender teen and her family by presenting them with the “2011 Roger Baldwin Award”, the organizations highest award, at the 2011 ACLU of Maine Annual Meeting & Celebration. The award is named after Roger Baldwin, an activist for social justice who helped found the American Civil Liberties Union and served as its director until 1950. The 2011 ACLU of Maine Annual Meeting & Celebration will be held at the Maine Wells Conference Center which is located at the University of Maine.
Nicole Maines (age 14) is being given the award along with her parents (Wayne and Kelly Maines), and her twin brother (Jonas Maines) for all of their efforts toward ending discrimination against transgenders living in the state of Maine.
The executive director of the ACLU of Maine, Shenna Bellows, had the following to say in regards to the Maines family receiving the award...
“The ACLU of Maine is very proud to honor [this] family for their advocacy and courage... They took enormous personal risk to advocate for an entire community.” - Shenna Bellows, executive director of the ACLU of Maine
The Maines family decided that they needed to get involved in publicly advocating for transgender rights after one particular incident that happened to their trangendered daughter at her school, Asa Adams School in Orono, Maine. Their daughter, Nicole, was told by the staff at her school that she had to use the boys bathroom, not the girl’s bathroom. Upon hearing this, The Maines family decided that action needed to be taken... not only on behalf of thier daughter, but on behalf of transgendered youth everywhere.
The family first went to the Maine Human Rights Commission before ultimately taking the issue to the Penobscot County Superior Court. In the lawsuit, the family alleges that school personnel did not do enough to keep their daughter from being bullied at school. The family is being represented by G.L.A.D. (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders).
Furthermore, Legislation was also introduced that would amend a Maine Human Rights Act to explicitly allow operators of a restroom or shower facility to decide who can use which gender’s bathroom. This proposed amendment further angered the family, enticing them to publicly speak out abot the amendment as well.
During a public hearing earlier in the year, Wayne Maines testified against the bill. The family’s fight didn’t stop there however. Nicole and her brother, Jonas, also appeared on a Maine Public Radio station to speak out against the proposed amendment, and educate the public on the dangers of such legislation.
“Without the [Maineses], we might have transgender discrimination on the books today.” “They were a compelling and moving face for the serious impact this legislation would have for transgender Mainers.” - Shenna Bellows, executive director of the ACLU of Maine
As far as the future is concerned, The Maines family still plans on advocating for transgender rights. Wayne and his daughter, Nicole, are scheduled to speak at the Spirit of Justice dinner in Boston on October 21st, sponsored by G.L.A.D.
© copyright 2011 Tammy-Girl Publishing.
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