EqualityMaine

10/16/2025

Meet the DJ who will make our monster mash a graveyard smash at the Great Pumpkin Ball! 🎃😈

As a lifelong resident of Maine, DJ Keith James blends the hottest High Energy Vocals, Anthems, Classics, and Top 40 Remixes from across the globe in his own stylistic approach of storytelling to take you on a PRIDE-filled sensory journey. He believes that music is one of the most powerful elements known to mankind—capable of lifting spirits, sparking deep emotions, and instantly bringing memories to life.

With over 20 years of curating iconic remixes and 6 years of professional performance experience, DJ Keith James ignites LGBTQ+ dance floors with vibrant, inclusive energy, celebrating music that defined generations and inspiring future ones to dance proud and loud throughout the Northeast.

It’s not too late to buy tickets - grab yours today!
equalitymaine.org/pumpkinball

10/15/2025

An attendee of last week's 60 Ideas in 60 Minutes forum was moved by Executive Director Gia Drew and felt inspired to support our mission.

They have offered to match donations made to the EqualityMaine advocacy fund up to $10,000 through the end of day tomorrow, Oct. 16th.

💝 To contribute and double the impact of your gift, visit this link: https://buff.ly/0ERGGSJ

10/14/2025

This LGBTQ+ History Month, we want to remind you that the fight for equality in America has been ongoing for centuries. Here’s an iconic Black trans woman and elder in the LGBTQ+ community you all should know about. We’re so sad to hear about Miss Major’s passing.

Miss Major had been on the front lines since Stonewall. She survived police violence, incarceration, and systemic oppression and turned that survival into powerful advocacy for trans women of color.

As a formerly incarcerated person, Miss Major fought for the rights of trans people behind bars, including through her work with Transgender Gender-Variant Intersex Justice Project. She cared for people with HIV/AIDS in NYC and worked in HIV prevention and community outreach in San Francisco.

She ran House of GG-TILIFI, a retreat center for trans and gender-expansive folks from the South in Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as executive produced Trans in Trumpland (now streaming everywhere), and co-authored Miss Major Speaks, a book on her life’s activism co-authored with Toshio Meronek.

10/12/2025

This year, we’re proud to announce Low Sensory Hour at The Great Pumpkin Ball 🎃
We get that the vibes of The Great Pumpkin Ball may be overstimulating or inaccessible to some, so we’re working on a space that feels more comfortable to disabled and neurodivergent folks in our community.
Ease into the evening with us from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM — a welcoming space before the main party begins at 8. This space will have:
✨ Quieter music
✨ Smaller crowd
✨ Sensory‑friendly lighting
🔮Halloween trivia, tarot readings, a silent movie, and more surprises! Hosted by Letta Dicken.
🎟️ Admission to Low Sensory Hour is $10

Come experience the magic your way — a gentler start to Maine’s biggest q***r Halloween celebration.

Buy your tickets now:
equalitymaine.org/pumpkinball

10/12/2025

Join EqualityMaine and Pride Aroostook for a powerful gathering of music and remembrance.
We’ve reserved 40 tickets to attend Considering Matthew Shepard at Collins Center for the Arts, a moving oratorio presented by the University of Maine Singers, the Maine Gay Men’s Chorus, UMaine’s Collegiate Chorale, and Acadia Choral Society. Pride Aroostook has generously organized a Pride Ride, a transportation offering with stops from Presque Isle to the Collins Center! Head to the ticketing page to learn more about this opportunity!

Written by acclaimed composer Craig Hella Johnson, this piece is a heartfelt tribute to Matthew Shepard, whose heartbreaking murder sparked a national movement for LGBTQ+ justice. With powerful poetry, Matt’s own words, and stirring music, the performance offers a message of compassion, hope, and unity.

🎶 Considering Matthew Shepard
🗓️ November 9 at 3:00pm
📍Collins Center for the Arts, UMaine Orono
🎟️ Sliding scale $14-70; concert ticket and concert + bus options
Gather in community and honor Matthew’s legacy with us!
Buy your tickets today:
https://www.equalitymaine.org/event/matthewshepard/

10/11/2025

It’s officially almost Halloween, and what better way to celebrate than to make creepy Halloween art with new friends! 🎃👻

Join us this month for Q***r Youth Art Club: Youth Only- Halloween Crafts! Eat some Halloween candy, and make weird art! 😈🎨

📅Wednesday, October 15, 4:00PM-6:00 PM
📍Ellard Studios, Lewiston, ME
🌈 Community, Snacks, Rotating Art Workshops
Got questions? Email kelly@equalitymaine.org!

*Please note: This art studio is located on the second floor of a building with one flight of stairs to climb. There is no elevator available.

10/10/2025

Right now, you have the chance to make twice the difference to our organization.
Thanks to a generous donor, every gift made to EqualityMaine by Wednesday, October 16 at midnight will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000!

That means your $25 becomes $50. Your $100 becomes $200. Every dollar goes twice as far to support our work for LGBTQ+ safety, freedom, and visibility across Maine.

And this opportunity couldn’t come at a more critical time. Across the country — and right here in Maine — efforts to roll back hard-won protections and target vulnerable communities are on the rise.

Your support helps us push back, organize, and fight for a Maine where everyone can live openly, safely, and without fear.

Give now and double your impact before 10/16 at midnight.
Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive Maine for all of us.

Donate now: equalitymaine.org/unlock-match

10/10/2025

10/10/2025

You REALLY don’t want to miss this….The Haus of Crown and Chaos is ready to bring the heat to the Great Pumpkin Ball stage! ❤️‍🔥

Where q***r brilliance meets q***r resilience, The Haus of Crown & Chaos is Drag King royalty- Finn Gerring’s internationally traveling q***r performance art troupe! Crown & Chaos is made up of many q***r and trans artists of all disciplines. Led by Finn Gerring and Rexx Chaos, each production highlights different local artists.

Blending drag, dance, and even a little burlesque, they are known for transforming stages into worlds full of raw authenticity, regal confidence, and beautiful chaos. 😈

For The Great Pumpkin Ball, Crown & Chaos unleashes its full roster of powerhouse performers! Swipe to see their full lineup!

Finn Gerring –Finn is the Founder and lead choreographer of Crown & Chaos, and a movement artist whose work merges high-concept storytelling with explosive q***r expression.

Rexx Chaos – Co-founder of Crown & Chaos and avant-garde drag entity, Rexx blurs the line between nightmare and fantasy with their charismatic Zaddy boy toy energy.

Liza May – Assistant Choreographer behind many of Crown & Chaos numbers, Liza May is a dancer and multifaceted entertainer who takes the stage with a fierce presence and captivating movement style.

G***t Bulvari — Hailing from Buffalo, NY, drag king G***t Bvlgari is bringing grown and sexy back to the stage with sizzling charisma and seductive swag. Gee-Spot is taking Maine head on!

Ria Lystic Thee Angel LaDessé – Representing our Boston family and the Haus of LaDessè, Ria is a high-energy “Lil Latina” drag artist always keeping the audience on edge and making her Portland debut!

Letta Dicken – Some may know her as Maine's #1 Plus Size Drag Queen or from one of her local self produced shows! Letta performs throughout Maine, New England, and is even making an international splash into Canada.

Together, these q***r monstrosities embody Crown & Chaos and encourage you to celebrate spaces where q***r resilience meets q***r brilliance.

Tickets are still on sale, buy yours today at equalitymaine.org/pumpkinball!

10/09/2025

Join the Age-Positive Movement! We can imagine a Maine without Ageism – a Maine where aging is embraced as a process to be celebrated and where all older people are valued and intentionally included in every aspect of our society. We believe we can build an Age-Positive (Age+) culture in Maine with healthier people and communities, and a stronger economy by intentionally addressing age-bias in all its forms. Won't you join the MCOA? https://bit.ly/4nTiY9S

10/08/2025

Today on International Le***an Day, we honor the power, resilience, and leadership of le***ans who’ve shaped the LGBTQ+ movement from the very beginning.

From the frontlines of Stonewall to the quiet care during the AIDS crisis, le***an activists have always shown up—for all of us.

Yet their stories are too often overlooked. So we wanted to highlight some incredible le***an photographs (and photographers) to highlight their lives and love!

👉 Let’s use this day to:
Celebrate their contributions
Challenge harmful stereotypes
Uplift intersectional voices of trans and nonbinary le***ans, genderfluid le***ans, le***ans of color, and ace le***ans
Reaffirm our solidarity with le***ans

💬 How will you show support for le***ans today—and every day?