We have 3 new art posters available on our webstore for free! Show your support for OUT Maine and LGBTQIA2S+ youth by displaying art in your classroom, office, studio, business, and other community spaces. All 18"x24" posters are free to download and print. Enjoy! www.outmaine.org/resources/st...

Join OUT Maine in Cape Elizabeth on October 16th for a special double event: for youth ages 12 and up, a movie and craft night! And for their adult caregivers, an in-person support session with our staff! RSVP here: secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

Registrations for OUT Maine Goes Live on the Lake (OMGLOL) are now open! 🍂 Our annual fall weekend retreat will be taking place October 3rd-5th for youth ages 14-18. This retreat is all about advocacy and leadership. Space is limited, sign up ASAP! www.outmaine.org/programs/for...

Learn how to implement inclusive youth programs alongside pros from arts/cultural orgs across Maine in the OUT Maine x Onion Foundation cohorts! 🌈💡 There's still space to join the next cohort starting August 22, as well as the final session on October 9. Sign up now! www.outmaine.org/programs/for...

Have you ever wanted to ask Maine's queer youth a genuine question? Here's your chance to hear from them! We are relaunching Dear Chuck, our anonymous Q&A blog series where adults can send in questions to be answered by members of our Youth Advisory Board! www.outmaine.org/resources/de...

All 8 anti-trans bills have been DEFEATED in the Maine legislature! 🏳️‍⚧️🎉 Mainers have spoken loud and clear. Trans rights are human rights, and all kids deserve to play. Thank you for contacting your representatives, testifying, sharing your experiences, raising awareness, and for being here.

We need your help! 🏳️‍⚧️ On June 9, 9-11am, OUT Maine staff will be at the State House in Augusta to hold signs in support of trans rights. Please sign up to join us by filling out this form. What better way to celebrate Pride than by advocating for trans Mainers? ❤️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Just in time for pride month, we've got a new free downloadable item in our webstore: a pride flag guide 11"x17" poster! We used feedback from program participants to put together this poster with some of the most popular flag designs (18 of them, to be exact). 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ www.outmaine.org/resources/st...

Our Read the Rainbow program is expanding! 🌈📖 For the 2025-26 school year, we'll be holding collaborative learning cohorts for librarians and educators who request book sets, as well as workshops and other events. Read the press release on our blog for more info! www.outmaine.org/our-read-the...

York region friends: we're doing one more big GSTA meetup event before Pride! Come join us and our MaineHealth friends on May 30th, 4-6pm, for board games, karaoke, arts & crafts, and more. It'll be a blast that you don't want to miss! 🌈 secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

Join OUT Maine, EqualityMaine, and Educate Maine for a new series of Queer Educator Meetups! We'll be holding two events: May 8 in Biddeford, and June 4 in Lewiston. We need queer educators now more than ever, so come to network and expand your community connections! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

There's still time to register for the 2025 Maine Youth & Family Summit! 🌲🌤👥 Join us in Waterville on Saturday, May 17th for a day of educational workshops, networking, and more for all ages. Thanks to the Alfond Youth & Community Center! Don't miss out! secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

Happy Lesbian Visibility Week! Did you know that the "L" comes first in the acronym because it acts as a thank-you for the immense support that lesbians provided to gay men during the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s? Lesbians are valid, loved, and deeply respected! ❤️

Help defeat hateful anti-trans bills! This toolkit will tell you how you can make your voice heard: bit.ly/BansActionAl...

This Pride Month, have your artwork displayed in an exhibit at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rock City Coffee, or the MCHT's Erickson Fields Preserve! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Submissions are due May 23rd. This year's theme is QUEER JOY! Send in your work on our website. www.outmaine.org/event/pride-...

Congrats to youth artist Jay for submitting the winning artwork for this year's Rainbow Ball Weekend official t-shirt design contest! This amazing design will be printed on shirts (by Little Chair Printing) for all youth attendees and adult staff/volunteers at the event. Counting down the days! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️💃🕺

We're accepting donations of clean formal wear/accessories to stock Rainbow Ball Weekend's boutique! The boutique will be open to all youth attendees to pick out a snazzy outfit for free to keep and wear to the highlight of the weekend, a safe queer prom! See below for donation instructions:

The deadline to apply for an OUT Maine scholarship is coming up! Scholarships are renewable and can range from $1,000-$25,000 annually. We want to help you achieve your dreams as a queer or allied youth in Maine. Apply by April 1st! www.outmaine.org/programs/for...

Registrations for Rainbow Ball Weekend 2025 are FULL! 🌈 We've had a great amount of interest for the retreat this year, so much so that it filled up early! But folks can still get on the waitlist in the event of any cancellations. Otherwise, we'll see you in May! www.outmaine.org/rainbow-ball...

New podcast episode just dropped! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 Ellie Roy (she/they, Comms. Coordinator) and Elio Shackelford (he/him, intern) are in discussion with Elio’s parents about raising a trans child, exploring gender identity as youth, and advice for families on a similar journey. open.spotify.com/episode/0dVJ...

We can all agree that children deserve to feel safe and supported in their homes, schools, and communities. To our trans and gender non-conforming youth out there: we will continue to fight for your right to be your authentic self. Your existence is vital, and your identity is valid.

Warm up on the dance floor at the second annual 21+ Rainbow Gala & Dance Party on Friday, Feb. 28th (just one week away)! Come to celebrate queer community, and enjoy live music from The Right Track Band, a photo booth, cash bar, silent auction, and more. Tickets on sale NOW @ www.outmaine.org/gala!

Now more than ever, we need organizations to ensure their programs are inclusive to LGBTQIA2S+ folks. Develop best practices with the OUT Maine x Onion Foundation cohort! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 Virtual information session 3/4/25; interest form here! www.outmaine.org/programs/for...

New FREE download: know your rights cards! Get an overview of student rights in Maine, and give youth the tools to advocate for themselves/peers by citing current laws & policies. Print for free and distribute to your students/friends! www.outmaine.org/resources/st...

RESCHEDULED: The Queer Theology Potluck has been rescheduled due to today's storm. The new date is Thursday, March 6th! See you there! secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

Dance and movement therapy "provides a space for self-discovery, healing, and deeper connection between the mind and body." Our intern, Elio Shackelford of Bennington College, writes about healing through movement and feeling comfortable in your body! www.outmaine.org/elio-intern-...

Maine advocates fear Donald Trump’s rhetoric will harm transgender students. The LGBTQ+ community — especially youth — have felt the effects since the election of Trump, said Sue Campbell, executive director of OUT Maine.

This month's School Support Circle will feature a guest speaker from GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders - GLAD Law! Come to discuss queer and trans student rights in schools in the wake of the new administration's executive orders. On Zoom Thursday, Feb. 6, 3-4pm! secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

We want you to know that we're here & we're not going anywhere. We will continue providing safe spaces for queer/trans youth to be authentically themselves across ME. Queer joy is one of the most radical forms of protest you can engage in. We hope you're finding yours amid all this uncertainty. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

QUEER THEOLOGY POTLUCK: Feb. 6th at 6pm in Camden! All are welcome to attend, no matter your religious affiliation or lack thereof. We'll discuss the relationship between queerness and religion, and how our theologies can celebrate diversity. RSVP for location. 🌈 secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

One of the most impactful things you can do to take care of yourself & others is to connect with friends! Rely on the people who love & support every aspect of your identity. And if you're looking to build up your community more, attend our support groups or events to make new LGBTQ+ friends. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

New article ft. Youth Engagement Coordinator Maggie Hirshland (she/they) in the Midcoast Villager: "I want to make sure that everyone in schools knows that they’re legally protected, and staff are legally required to protect their trans and queer students." www.midcoastvillager.com/news/trans-u...

Know your rights. 🏳️‍🌈 With all of the new legislation being signed and talked about this month, it's important to know how your rights here in Maine stand (short answer: we do have protections in place). Review Maine laws, which have not changed as of 1/22/25, here: www.outmaine.org/an-overview-...

Calling all artist friends: we need a new T-shirt design for Rainbow Ball Weekend 2025, our biggest youth retreat of the year! Submit your artwork by March 15th for a chance to have it printed on 150+ shirts for queer/allied youth & adults across Maine this spring. 🌈 www.outmaine.org/t-shirt-desi...

Hello, Bluesky! 🏳️‍🌈 We're glad to be here. Watch this space for program news, upcoming events, resources, and more opportunities to get queer youth connected and supported across Maine.