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The Trump administration and its allies have put unprecedented pressure on the State of Maine to weaken our laws for divisive, political purposes. They want to weaken Maine’s anti-discrimination law: the Maine Human Rights Act. Fortunately, the Maine Senate rejected both legislative proposals, LD 233 and LD 1432.
The act prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, and mental or physical disability. It provides nondiscrimination protections relating to employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and the extension of credit. It also protects Mainers from retaliation on the job due to protected activity under the Whistleblowers’ Protection Act or due to reporting violations of the act.
Unions like ours have an important role in upholding all workers’ rights without exception. Currently, transgender and nonbinary people are under threat due to the Trump administration and its allies’ animosity toward transgender and nonbinary rights. Our union strongly supports the Maine Human Rights Act, the Maine Human Rights Commission, the employees who work for the commission, many of whom are MSEA members, and the workers involved when discrimination or retaliation occur on the job or in hiring or promotion decisions.
The Maine Human Rights Act illustrates the principled assertion of state sovereignty and our commitment to nondiscrimination. We support fundamental civil rights for all. States have always been allowed to expand individual rights; Maine leads in doing just that. This is basic to the checks and balances that distribute power and preserve democracy.
Mark A. Brunton
President
Maine Service Employees Association
SEIU Local 1989
Augusta
