Dear friend 

The Legislature comes roaring back from break with a full schedule of hearings and work session. This week Appropriations will hold work sessions and a vote on the Health and Human Services portions of the budget (we testified in support of improvements to the childcare workforce wage increases!). 

While it's been quiet we've been gearing up for this year's work on the Equal Rights Amendment. Rep. Lois Reckitt will make another go at passing Constitutional protection of sex and gender, and we've been gearing up with partners from ERA Maine, the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. While the bill language isn't out yet, it will likely be modeled on the ERA that passed in Nevada with 70% support, which ensures equal rights for all, “regardless of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry, or national origin.” Join us for banner painting (info below)!

On the PFML front: The details of a bill to create Paid Family and Medical Leave are still being drafted. We expect the PFML Commission to present it's final report to the Labor and Housing Committee within the next week or two, and the bill will probably be out a week after that. Watch for a hearing in mid-March. Last week, this UNH survey showed that 73 percent of Mainers support the creation of at Paid Family and Medical Leave program (scroll to page 5). Sign our petition to show your support today.

In solidarity, 

Destie, Dania, Catie, and Brook

PS - Big congrats to the nurses at Maine Medical Center! In December, their paid leave had been stripped from their contract. This is an overwhelmingly women-led workforce, and paid leave is one of the most essential benefits to support women. Last week, their union reached an agreement and the benefits are back!

Weekly Calendar

The weekly House Calendar is here. The weekly Senate Calendar is here. 

The Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee and Health and Human Services Committee are holding hearings on the HHS budget this week. 

March 2

1:00 - LD 351 - PH - An Act to Increase Access to Birth Control by Making Certain Contraception Available over the Counter (Brakey)

1:00 - LD 443 - PH - An Act to Prohibit Marriage of Any Person Under 18 Years of Age (O'Connell)

March 3

9:00 - LD 34 - WS - An Act to Require a Person to Show Photographic Identification for the Purpose of Voting (Pouliot) 

March 7

2:00 - LD 301 - WS - An Act to Exempt Employers from Providing Earned Paid Leave for Certain Employees (Poirier)

March 8

9:00 - LD 707 - PH An Act to Update the Maine Human Rights Act with Respect to Gender Identity (Sheehan)

March 10

9:30 - LD  103 - PH - An Act to Provide Incentives to Employers to Provide On-site Child Care (Jauch)

Creative Activism: Paint Banners with Artist Rapid Response Team! 

March 5 and April 2

ARRT will be dreaming up and painting banners to support the Maine Equal Rights Amendment and other social justice causes. Email [email protected] for more info and details.

Let's Visit the State House! in March

March 15 6-7pm VIRTUAL

March 16 12-1pm VIRTUAL

March 16 3:30-5:15 IN PERSON

These are casual opportunities to learn everything you need to know about getting in and around the State House. Register here. 

The Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University is seeking participants for a research study on non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Have you experienced and reported workplace sexual harassment and/or other forms of discrimination? If the answer is “YES”, please contact the Clayman Institute at [email protected]. Your time will be compensated with a $50 gift card.

Citizen Advocacy Toolkit

Spotlight on Activism

March 8 / 5:30-7pm

Join this monthly benefit series in Portland or via Zoom, for a powerful and fun evening of storytelling, movement, and community-building. More info here.

Maine Women's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

March 18, 1:00-2:30

This year the BPW/Futurama Foundation and UMaine Augusta will induct Dr. Sandra Caron into the Hall of Fame. Dr. Caron is a pioneer in sexuality education, widely known throughout Maine, respected nationally and internationally for her creative teaching and groundbreaking research in sexuality education. More info here.

2023 Justice for Women Lecture

April 26 / 7:00pm

The Justice For Women Lecture brings a distinguished speaker to Maine annually to contribute to a global conversation about justice for women and girls in the developing world. More info here.

Maine TransNet Lobby Day

May 2 - More details to come!

Maine Feminist Events Calendar

Rep. Kristen Cloutier: A paid family and medical leave program would be transformational for Maine - Sun Journal - February 19

Teenage girls facing record-high sadness, suicide risk, CDC report says - News Center Maine - February 20

But there's great news too: 

Maine's Maddie Ripley makes history as first female wrestler to win a state championship - WMTW - February 20

UN Report: Women Are Dying in Greater Numbers During Pregnancy or Childbirth - VOA - February 23 

and... in a related note: 

Rural Hospitals Are Shuttering Their Maternity Units - NYT - February 26