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October is LGBTQ+ History Month
Rodney Wilson, one of the founders of LGBTQ+ History Month, will conduct an encore presentation for our youth about his experiences as an openly gay teacher in the 1990s and his journey to launch LGBTQ+ History Month. His story is outlined in The Advocate: The Story...
OUT Maine Launches Online Professional Development Training Portal
Check it out -- Mainequeerspace.org -- for interactive professional development training with certificates of completion! Thanks to generous donations from Jane’s Trust and You Have Our Trust Fund, OUT Maine has converted several of its in-person trainings to online,...
Belfast Co-op Donates $1,000 from Pride campaign
OUT Maine recently received $1,000 from Belfast Co-op. The funds were raised through a Pride month campaign for the upcoming 2022 Rainbow Ball Weekend. The donation was accompanied by paper hearts decorated with pictures and messages of support for LGBTQ+ youth,...
OUT Maine launches curated grades K-12 school curriculum activities
To help schools create more welcoming, affirming and safer environments for LGBTQ+ youth, OUT Maine has built a set of curated curriculum activities for educators. The activities are designed to supplement educational content currently being utilized in schools. The...
OUT Maine launches “Read the Rainbow” for School Libraries
OUT Maine is proud to announce the launch of “Read the Rainbow,” a program that places LGBTQ+ inclusive books into Maine’s school libraries. These carefully curated book sets increase visibility, celebrate diversity and foster supportive communities. For every $400...
OUT Maine hires new Training Coordinator
OUT Maine is excited to announce that August Sender (they/them) is joining the OUT Maine team as the Training Coordinator. August comes to OUT from SASSMM (Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine) where they were the Education Co-Coordinator. They have spent...
Maine Department of Education Stands Up for LGBTQ+ Youth
(Friday, August 20, 2021) Today the Maine Department of Education launched a new website section devoted to improving school climate and support of LGBTQ+ students in Maine. “Every student in Maine has an irrefutable right to feel safe, recognized and valued in their...
United Midcoast Charities awards OUT Maine $11,000 for Youth Programs
The OUT Maine team is very grateful for a generous grant of $11,000 from United Midcoast Charities. This funding supports programs that provide connection, support and adult mentors for LGBTQ+ youth. Programming includes weekly virtual programs, an upcoming fall leadership retreat, regional overnights in Knox and Waldo, and the next Rainbow Ball weekend scheduled for April 2022.
Spruce Mountain High School GSA Thrives during Pandemic School Year
Spruce Mountain HS is a small school in a relatively conservative pocket in Western Maine. Just last year, a small group of students stepped up to form a GSA which quickly grew from 5 people to 27 very active members. I watched them form a community of their own where they were totally comfortable being themselves. This enabled them to attend school events that they would typically avoid and feel uncomfortable. Our big goal for the end of the year was to attend Rainbow Ball as a big group. Then, of course, covid.