Have a heart for Maine children – attend the hearing on L.D. 1 on Valentine’s Day.

Governor Paul LePage has released a set of proposed regulatory roll-backs that would eliminate or dramatically weaken a broad range of laws meant to protect the health of Maine people – including the Kids Safe Products law.

If enacted, the Governor’s “Phase I Regulatory Reform Proposals” would direct Maine to weaken its environmental safeguards to the lowest levels acceptable at the federal level.

Please join us on Valentine’s Day, Monday, February 14, and tell the Committee you are AGAINST allowing toxic chemicals in toys, baby bottles, and sippy cups!

The hearing on L.D. 1 will be in front of the Legislative Regulatory Fairness and Reform Committee and will start at 9:00 a.m. in room 208 of the Cross State Office Building. We expect a day-long hearing. Any part of the day you can attend would be terrific.

There is a press conference happening in the Hall of Flags at noon, so if you can only sneak away for your lunch hour, join us then!

Please RSVP if you can attend.

(That was the love part.)

… And, now marriage.

As you may know, the Maine Women’s Lobby has been working hard to reach full marriage equality for Maine people.

The most powerful tool we have to engage Maine people as advocates for marriage equality are the personal stories of people like you.

That’s why I’m excited to share with you a new project recently launched by our partners, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and EqualityMaine:

MaineTheWayLifeShouldBe.org.

As we work toward achieving marriage equality in Maine, we want to be able to share the personal stories of same-sex couples who need the protection and security that only marriage can bring, as well as those from the supportive family members, neighbors, and friends who believe in full equality.

Please take a moment to visit MaineTheWayLifeShouldBe.org, read the stories of other people in your community, and, most importantly, submit your own personal story.

I hope you will join us.

If you’re like me, you’re disturbed and disappointed by the passage of Question 1. Everyone put so much on the line. On the lobbying team and in the field ,volunteers and staff were driven, thoughtful, strategic and focused. Thousands of you put your stories, time, and dollars to work. You did everything right.

Ultimately, however, this is just one phase in the campaign for justice. The foundation we built together will endure – and prepare us for the next moment. We’re particularly proud of Maine’s lawmakers who heard their constituents appeals for justice and in some cases, rightfully provided leadership in their districts. As part of the Maine Women’s Lobby’s 30 year history, you know that winning justice is a multi-year , sometimes a multi-decade proposition, and it will never be easy. This is why we lead.

Thanks for being part of this work now, and for the long haul. We’ll grieve – we’ll support our friends and partners in the work – but we won’t stop today, or ever.

Thanks to all,

Sarah Standiford

http://www.wmtw.com/video/21458064/index.html

In my opinion, the principled position in support of equal rights carried the day. Loving, committed gay and lesbian couples should have the same rights and protections as anyone else. My favorite quote: “Let’s remember, gay and lesbian couples want to enjoy marriage…not change it.”

 No on 1!!

So, I started asking around … and here are some reflections from the women of the Maine Women’s Lobby:

Director of Public Policy, Laura Harper, and some of her lobbyists cohorts.

Here’s what Laura had to say:

I feel certain that my experiences lobbying for marriage equality will never be matched. Every day, I came out to legislators. I shared with them my commitment for my partner, Lauren, our engagement, and the fears and discrimination I have faced during our partnership because we can’t get married.

It was a rush. It was exhausting. It was scary. It was joyful.

When the Governor signed the bill into law, I was waiting with other advocates outside his office. When a member of his staff discreetly stuck her head around the door and whispered, “He signed it,” I knew I was a part of Maine history. I knew it would be a moment I would never forget, similar to when President Obama was elected or when we finally passed the anti-discrimination law in Maine.

I will return to that moment again and again. There will always be a part of me that will never age, there will always be a young woman standing there in her little suit with her sweaty armpits and rumpled tissue thinking, “Oh my God, we’ve actually won.”

Here’s Sarah, our Executive Director:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s Kim Simmons, one of our board members:

The highlight of the 124th Legislative session, for me, was the passage of the Marriage Equality Bill!  I am impressed with the cooperation that emerged in the 124th Legislature and with the fact that our leadership is female. Nevertheless, I was disappointed not to see more radical and progressive action taken to redistribute wealth in our state, to protect the poor, and to address the absence of paid sick leave which creates both the potential for a public health crisis and family emergencies on daily basis. It seems to me that we have a unique moment to truly push for tax policy that is rooted in social justice priorities and reflects the interests of most Maine people, and I hope that more progressive and innovative thinking will emerge in the second session of the 124th!

Charlotte at the State House

And, here’s what I think:

So, when I think back on the 124th session of the Maine Legislature, my first thought is, “phew … it’s over.” And don’t get me wrong, I love the excitement of the session. I love the exhilaration of the wins – and the opportunity of the losses. And, I guess in a lot of ways I would describe this past session as a roller-coaster ride – we were up, we were down, we were recessed, we were tabled … Oh yeah, I was paying attention to the play-by-play afforded to us by Laura, her Blackberry, and Twitter … and I was addicted! Check out our newsletter archive to review the roller-coaster ride.

So, enough about us. What do you think? Add your reflections today.

PS: Yes, “phew” is actually a word. It’s in the dictionary and everything.

Thanks everyone,

Charlotte

In New Hampshire, Gov. John Lynch – who previously defined marriage as strictly between a man and a woman – promised his “best decision” after consulting lawmakers and constituents. Mr. Lynch would be wise also to consult his neighbor in Maine, Gov. John Baldacci, who signed his state’s same-sex marriage bill. He previously had opposed the idea, with the familiar hedge of supporting the half-step of civil unions.

From all of us at the Maine Women’s Lobby: Thank you, Governor Baldacci.

Here’s my favorite part of his statement:

“In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” Governor Baldacci said. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.”

“Article I in the Maine Constitution states that ‘no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be denied the enjoyment of that person’s civil rights or be discriminated against.”

Now, it’s time to talk to our friends, family, and neighbors, about the importance of upholding these protections at the ballot box.