John,

Today, on National Coming Out day, I'm proud to stand with our LGBTQIA+ friends and neighbors. And I'm proud to have been on the front lines as one of the founding supporters of the Maine Lesbian Gay Political Alliance and as an advocate for some of the nation's first anti-hate curriculum.

And I'm proud to be from Maine, where we've consistently driven our country forward to recognize the rights and dignity of the LGBTQIA+ community - in employment, in medical care, in hate crime legislation, in prohibiting "conversion therapy" and as one of the first states in the nation to recognize same-sex marriage by popular vote in 2012.

But last year, our representatives in Washington actively worked to thwart our progress. Trump overturned the right of trans people to serve in the military, and Susan Collins cast the deciding vote on Justice Kavanaugh, who, with the rest of the Court heard oral arguments on three LGBTQIA+ employment rights cases this week. There was much discussion about bathrooms. There was little discussion about the inherent rights of every citizen of this country, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

We will follow these cases closely and hope that the Court does the right thing and guarantees no one can be discriminated against. We are definitely nervous, but one thing to be sure of is that, as trans journalist Kate Sosin said, whatever they decide, they will not rule on our humanity. They will rule on their own. We will always stand united for rights and respect for all.

But today, let us celebrate the progress we've made and double-down on our commitment to protecting the rights of all Americans.

We should all be free to be who we are and to love whom we want to love. Mainers have led the way when it comes to LGBTQIA+ rights, and, with your support, I'll bring that legacy to Washington.

With love,

Betsy----


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