Earlier this month, York County commissioners proclaimed June as Pride Month in Maine’s second-most populous county. The proclamation is an acknowledgement that while society at large increasingly supports LGBTQ+ equality, the need for education and awareness remains vital to end discrimination and prejudice, the document states.

Do such acknowledgements help? And are there resources for those in the community who are struggling? York County Commissioner Justin Chenette and Gia Drew, executive director of Equality Maine, say yes, to both.

“I’m proud to be part of a commission that stands up for treating others with respect and honoring our shared human experience,” said Chenette. “In York County, you have the freedom to live openly and authentically as your true self … that doesn’t happen by accident. It takes using the platform we’ve been given by our constituents to speak up for what is right over what is easy. Proclamations have an ability to uplift a positive message of our collective values, raise awareness for support resources and causes, and give voice to marginalized communities. It can be a lifesaving statement when we have a government body recognize our LGBTQ neighbors as equals.”

“I think in the history of the LGBTQ+ movement, proclamations made by towns and cities, as well as by county, state and federal government, in support of LGBTQ+ people and their families have played an important role in not only raising the public visibility of LGBTQ+ people who live, work, and/or visit Maine, but also sharing  important moments in our history,” Drew said. “Information about leaders, and also providing the opportunity for public facing agencies to show some respect and understanding for our journey as a community, which continues to be challenging, especially in today’s hyper partisan world,.”

Chenette noted recent statistics from a 2024 report by the nationwide nonprofit The Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention to LGBTQ+ youth. The report notes that statewide that year, 38% of Maine’s LGBTQ+ young people 13-24 seriously considered suicide, and that 13% attempted to end their lives. Twenty-three percent of LGBTQ+ youth were physically threatened or harmed based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, the report states.

“One free resource for LGBTQ+ youth in York County is the Trevor Project’s suicide hotline,” said Chenette. “Their support resources are 24/7, nationwide, 100% free and confidential. Youth can be connected to a crisis counselor who is understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, without judgment, and is anonymous. Youth can reach out to a live person on the phone at 1-866-488-7386, text ‘START’ to 678-678, or begin a live online chat at https://chat.trvr.org.”

Equality Maine, formed in 1984, “still leads the charge on ensuring laws, policies, and ordinances, protect LGBTQ+ people and their families, at the local, state, and federal levels,” Drew said. “We also connect people to one another through programs and events, especially the most marginalized among us, like our trans community, young people, and our older adults,.”

The agency offers a number of programs and resources for young people and for adults, at: www.equalitymaine.org.

“York County is providing real leadership at a pivotal moment when there is so much political strife and negativity directed at our LGBTQ youth,” said Chenette. “ There may come a time when these types of proclamations aren’t needed, but our county government’s voice is needed now more than ever.”

Tammy Wells is media specialist for York County Government.