Transgender awareness leader speaks at UMaine
By Eric Berard
Posted on Feb. 11, 2013, at 1:34 a.m.http://mainecampus.com/2013/02/11/transgender-awareness-leader-speaks-at-umaine/?ref=hpWayne M. Maines, director of safety and environmental management at the University of Maine, gave an emotional presentation on Wednesday afternoon as part of the spring 2013 lunch series hosted by the women's studies program. His daughter Nicole has become a symbol for transgender justice in Maine. Maines described his family's journey and how the experience of press, bullying, parenting and the court have changed his views on transgender.
"Look at this family," Maines said, as he displayed a photograph of his family to the audience. "It's an all-American photo.
"The reason I'm here today is because there's kids all over the nation that are not going to be fine," Maines continued.
Nicole has been featured in several news stories across the state from 2007 until 2012 after parents of other students complained to administration at the Asa Adams School in Orono of Nicole using the girls' bathroom as a transgender girl when she was in fifth grade. That's when the bullying started, according to Maines who gave recognition to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community early in his presentation, thanking them for helping he and his family.
Currently, Maines are still fighting for transgender justice in the state's highest court.
