Mae, She/Her
Evan, She/They
“I'm truly fortunate for the community that's accepted me through all my evolutions, even when I couldn't. Six years ago I spent my free time at the bottom of a bottle. Sobriety found me moving to Maine where I found amazing, supportive friends along the way. It's in their glow that I find the best parts of myself and the fires we share are a daily gift. Back home my mom and dad are the kind of parents everyone deserves. What more can you say? My younger brother Scott embodies a compassion and positivity that I aspire towards every day while my older brother Andrew can and will save the world someday (so please keep an eye out for that). These are my heroes and they make it so much easier to be me. These days when I'm not restoring old buildings you can usually find me on my roller skates or rolling dice with my fellow indoor kids. Books, fitness, conversations about our feelings, and absolutely every pet I meet are keen interests of mine as well. Most importantly, you should meet my cat Donna. You'd love her! My life can feel chaotic, overwhelming, and occasionally scary but gosh, it's feel so good to finally be me. So much of my life is privileged and no small part of that is the love and support I've encountered since coming out. Thank you Maine; I'll strive to pay it forward!”
Regan, She/They
“I came to accept that I am pansexual fairly late in life and in a heterosexual relationship. It was a rocky road at first grappling with what exactly it means for me to be "out" in a straight, monogamous partnership. Imposter syndrome galore. Straight privilege guilt galore. Thanks to a lot of therapy and a supportive partner, though, I feel like I finally understand and accept myself in my heart and not just in my head. It's an absolutely radical feeling that I wish upon every single human being on this earth. Please just love yourselves!”
Britt, She/Her
“Lately I have been thinking a lot about queer joy and how I cultivate queer joy within my own life, when it often feels like the world is on fire. I always return to community and connection. My queer joy stems from meaningful conversations and laughter with other members of our community, as well as thoughtfully curated queer events. Knowing that these spaces can be so magical and so unique makes me want to protect them fiercely, while still ensuring that they are inclusive and welcoming. The individuals behind Queely ME have cultivated such joyful and special spaces. I want to do everything I can to support and preserve the queer joy that these spaces bring.”
Mark, He/Him
“It's no secret that the cannabis industry is dominated by cis white male culture, a lot of it pretty toxic. Coming into the Higher Grounds of Maine project six years ago as a queer- and woman-owned effort I had two options: play by the rules of the industry (a path I've tread too often), or build something authentic to who I was and hope that in Portland our community would find us and resonate with it. I wanted to fight for space and provide jobs for queer and trans people who would otherwise face a lot of obstacles entering it as well. I knew it would be tough...cannabis is also a hyper-political industry and frankly to succeed one needs to be in front of politicians. That's also a very conservative and straight male space. I certainly have my own share of privilege and that helped me opt for kicking the door down, growing my hair out long and unabashedly queer, and putting together a completely different kind of cannabis concept, nothing like I've ever seen and have yet to discover anywhere else in the industry. It's been a huge help connecting with other queer business owners, LQBTQIA+ workers and customers here in Portland and sharing that struggle. It's a work in progress. But being true to this project has helped me be true to myself and own the queerness that I put away to fit in at a young age. I feel like I've grown immensely as a queer person over the last six years and a lot of that's due to this community, for which I am truly grateful."
Lucky Fox Bookshop (Ash)
“The Lucky Fox Bookshop is a safe place for everyone—the voracious readers and the casual browsers, the canonical literature lovers and the high-fantasy dragon slayers, those with their heads in the clouds and those with their feet planted firmly on the ground. No matter who you are, you’ll find much more than just your next read at The Lucky Fox. You’ll find community, education, and inspiration. And if you look closely between stacks and sentences, you just might find yourself. “I started this pop-up and online bookshop in 2021 with the firm belief that books are connective tools that nurture empathy, imagination, and curiosity. Starting this shop was also a declaration to myself that walking the paths your passions lay for you is always worth it. When I’m not popping up around Maine, I’m working as an editor, roller skating around town, rock climbing, or hanging out with family: my wonderful wife, our energetic pup Roland the Gunslinger, and our grumpy cat (and Lucky Fox mascot) Captain Fantastic.”
Queers On Quads
“I began Queers on Quads because I knew I wasn’t the only one who loves park roller skating and celebrating my queerness, and I wanted more of those things! We started getting together in June 2022, and we have been carving out space for ourselves at the skate parks and on the streets, looking cute, and happily blasting music the whole way. Come skate with us!” - Coco
Declan, He/Him
“Growth is hard. It forces you to face everything you’ve been running from and truly see yourself for who you are. I recently heard a podcast interview where the woman being interviewed jokingly described emotional growth and dealing with your feelings as “gross and inconvenient”. I love that so much. As someone with a dark sense of humor who has been experiencing a prolonged season of growth I can relate heavily to feeling disgusted and bothered by this entire process. I am having to deconstruct and rebuild everything I have spent a lifetime building walls around. It’s hard, painstakingly slow work and is literally the worst. But it’s also led me to levels of mindfulness, enlightenment, and radical self acceptance I didn’t even know existed. It is allowing me to free myself from old habits, beliefs and past experiences in order to make room for new chapters, new beginnings and new relationships. I still have a long way to go on my path to spiritual abundance but I’m so proud of the person I am becoming and the foundation I am setting for my future. Besides, I’d rather be gross and inconvenienced than trapped between a bunch of dusty old walls.”
Daniel, He/Him
“Family has always meant a lot to me. I was born at Maine Medical Center and adopted at 3 weeks old. My parents moved to New Jersey where I grew up. Growing up in the 80s, in a small town in New Jersey wasn't easy for a queer kid. I was bullied from the age of 12 until the day I graduated high school. Once I reached college it would take me 2 more years to find the courage to come out and finally start living as my authentic self. After college I moved to Brooklyn and started to build and find my queer family. A family of love, support, shared experiences, and life long friendships. I lived there for 21 years and those were the most impactful years of my life. And now I am back. Back to where my journey started. My husband works at Maine Medical Center, I have a huge biological family all around, and have started to find a new queer family of friends here in Maine. Recently, I started a monthly Queer Family gathering with some old and new friends and am hoping to have it be a regular thing that allows for any and all queer Mainers to have a place to be supported and celebrated. Because no matter how a family is created, everyone deserves to be a part of a family of love.”
Devyn, She/Her
“Fuck you, SCOTUS. We’re paying attention and we’re not going away.”
Zoe, She/Her
“My passions are my identity. From being a violinist to artist to writer to filmmaker to teacher and now a sailor, I’ve always known my life path was going to be something unconventional. When I finished undergrad in 2020, I followed one of my childhood dreams of working as a deckhand on tall ships (aka traditionally rigged sailing vessels). It was an industry I had very little prior experience in, but I had the enthusiasm and courage to make up for that. Two years later and I’ve sailed down the entire East Coast of North America and through much of Casco Bay. It has been transformative. I’ve made deep and beautiful friendships and sang all the sea shanties you could think of below deck with my crew. Beyond leading a romantic life, I found space to examine the deeper nuances of my gender expression through sailing. I’ve learned about healing from trauma and finding community with many people seeking the same. Since tall ships is such a small world, what I do, and my love for it, has either been inspiring or intimidating. Sexism from the outside world was something I bore the brunt of. For every thoughtful comment and question, there were the opposite: I’ve been called many things from “scary” “the tough one” to “too pretty to be doing this job." I’ve continued to not become more palpable by asking any version of “what do you mean?” in response. It’s a way to stand up for myself in a strong but quiet way. In turn I find crews I know I will be held and seen by. This is where the heart of the experience come from; the joy of sailing, finding adventure, and found family outweighs anything the outside world can say. You protect each other, and you always find a way to laugh together.”
Raven & Crow Co, LLC
“Raven & Crow Co LLC is a Queer owned and operated metaphysical shop and espresso bar in Brunswick, ME. Raven & Crow Co. was founded on the principle of providing a space where members of pagan religious groups, magickal practitioners, and creatives could gather and be surrounded by likeminded, welcoming individuals. Founded by an LGBT team, Raven & Crow Co. is more than a metaphysical shop: it's a place where new and old alike can come to learn, grow, and bring new life to the Southern Maine magical community.”
Dylan, He/Him
“I can’t believe how many new and gorgeous feathers I’ve grown. How I’ve been tentatively kicking ass, queer fierce joy overflowing my heart to my hands as I roll up my sleeves and plant seeds of courage and love, caring for the kaleidoscope of my people. My former lives have all helped me grow into my present, as I rise in a burst of ocean waves to fly, to sing, to dance. To keep fighting.”
Shannon, She/Her. Little Fish Doula.
“I came out in 1993 on Christmas morning; 0/10 do not recommend. The early 90s were a great time to be a queer kid. We still had gay bars, drag culture was thriving, and because our elders fought and fought and fought, we were starting to see a societal shift around queer inclusion and equality. I began working in an abortion clinic in 1997, in Bangor, Maine. The director of the center was a force of nature and she saw something in me, something that she felt was worth her time and effort. That changed my life. I'll never forget the elders who mentored me, believed in me, and cheered me on. Because of them I've been able to be a mentor, a friend, a champion, and a force of nature. Working in abortion care is the best. A lot of patients would say, "How can you do this job every day? Isn't it so sad?" The answer is no. It's not sad to me to provide someone with bodily autonomy, it's joyful. Of course, there were patients whose stories were heartbreaking or terrible...but that's not because of abortion. People suffer because of misogyny, white supremacy and racism, poverty, and Queer-phobia. They don't suffer because they were given the highest quality health care they will ever receive. Abortion is liberation and I will always, always, always do what it takes to support folks who need it. I see my doula and birth work as an extension of my abortion work. Supporting folks on the spectrum of pregnancy is my calling. I heard someone in a birthing space say, "There's no trophy for an unmedicated birth." I disagree. The trophy is autonomy. The blue ribbon, the first-prize trophy is being able to make decisions based on evidence-based information. The fall of Roe isn't just about abortion. It's about who gets to make choices for us. It's about autonomy and without it, people who can get pregnant are less than full citizens in this country. That is unacceptable to me. Keep fighting. Keep loving. Keep being a force of nature.”
Maddy, They/Them
“Hi! I am Maddy (they/them) and I live in Bath! Inspired by Andrea Gibson, here is my list of things that don’t suck (and that keep me grounded amidst the stressors of the world):
Drinking coffee on my recliner in the morning with my princess puppy nestled beside me. 6:15am yoga. Saturday morning bike ride to the farmers market. Reading at the beach on Sunday morning… really just reading anywhere. Playing games with my friends – my recent faves are “What Do You Meme?” “Organ Attack!” and “The Oregon Trail Card Game.” Collecting flowers and veggies from my garden. Making Sunday night dinner for my family. Watching a whole movie series on the coach with my lover – last year we watched all the Aliens movies, then the Predator movies, then the Alien vs Predator movies (it was so epic!). This summer we started watching all the Jurassic Park movies – rawr! A plug in vibrator next to my bed for predictable pleasure that will never run out of batteries. Facetiming with my besties. Little kisses and hugs with my lover throughout the day. Hobby time (quilting and baking). Watching videos my sister posts of my little niblings – they are adorable! Thank you Kyle for lifting up the beautiful faces of our Maine queer community.”
Kevin, He/Him
“Live, Laugh, and Love, but most of all, be proud of who you are.”
Caspian, They/Them
“There is much to be simultaneously enraged and disheartened by in this world. From global issues like systemic racism, atrocities of war, continued harm to marginalized groups, to violence in schools. And that’s just a short list. Then there are personal issues such as ruptured connections, physical and mental health, the various losses, and financial struggles that comprise our daily lives. It can all be so overwhelming. What I’ve found that’s helped me push through is appreciating those small lights in my life. A beautiful sunrise, a star filled sky, a genuine soul connection- regardless of how fleeting, the ability to share your true self with those around you and feeling both seen and embraced, while offering the same in exchange. We’re on this giant rock hurtling though space together. As a communal species we can and should rely on one another, even though we’re conditioned to think we need to carry everything alone. Keep your heart open. Speak your truth, gently. And love. Especially when it seems like it’s easier to do the opposite.”
Kathryn, She/They
“As a transracial adoptee who grew up in New York City, I discovered the powers of being in wilderness gradually. It’s amazing when the noise around me is drowned out by the loudness of my thoughts, and I begin to realize that I am comforted by my own presence rather than avoiding bits and pieces of my identity. I learn new skills, become more confident in my decision making, realize I am resilient and strong, and all I want to do is share that feeling with others because everyone deserves to be empowered by who they are. It’s contagious. I feel so grateful to live in a place like Portland where nature is accessible. I am excited to support Queerly ME in building community and offering equitable opportunities for queers to explore through connection and play!”
Alex, He/Him
“The fact that i will always be trans is something that i can be proud of, and once i figured that out, i absolutely was and still am. at this point, personally, i have accepted that my experiences have shaped me to the point that i will never not be queer. I love the word queer because it is a perfect in-between word. everything you don’t know how to say is in that word. there aren’t words for seeing someone in public, dressed exactly how you never knew you wanted to dress. a confidence you never knew you wanted to have. there’s a magic in that and i want to be that.
my love for words overlaps with my passion for art— i make designs with words i believe in, aimed to empower members of my community to be themselves and embrace their experiences and unique forms of queerness. the trans experience is not just special because it is magic; there is something innately human about accepting and embracing change within yourself to grow into your best self, over and over again.”
Kathy,
“Yes, Big Bad Butch is who I am….but secret is I am a sap inside!!! I always say I came out at birth and That is true. Life is so much better when you get to be who you are from day one.”
Hannah, She/Her
Abortion care worker and doula and writer. Her book YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE is forthcoming from Atria/Simon & Schuster in 2023 and more information about her work can be found on her website, hannahmatthews.me
.
“Abortion care is inherently queer. Community care, intentionality, consent, imagining and creating your own future and family and body and world, autonomy, sex for joy and pleasure and connection instead of for procreation (but sometimes for procreation, if and when you want!) Every day I help someone create and protect their own experience of their body moving through the world, and every day I fall more and more deeply in love with that queer work and the constellation of humans who are doing it.”
Trevor, He/Him
“I feel like this year alone has been very personally a rollercoaster of good and chaotic. And part of me feels a little guilty for that, guilt that during a literal pandemic I can feel myself still grow, thrive, and prosper into someone different. In the last ten months alone I’ve met so many wonderful people, and grown closer with those whom before I only thought of in passing. Which is crazy! Coming from someone who before covid was a very successful homebody. I think it’s safe to say many had that same epiphany I did, that during this ‘panorama’ being an introvert isn't the big ole flex you think it is, especially while the metaphorical doomsday clock is ever ticking on, (like the ocean was on FIRE! Remember that! And without delving into our current reality of murder hornets and monkeypox, I’m thankful. So very thankful for the milestones and memories that have been scattered along my path. Even now I wonder who I would’ve been if I had chosen to stay the same but am so grateful I didn’t. With that being said I relish in these bursts of happy chaos, from dinner with friends, to picnics at sunset, to watching strangers become lovers and then strangers again. It is because of this I can be less afraid and more curious or even eager for what could possibly happen next.”
Sloan, She/They
“I’m writing on the day that Roe v. Wade was overturned. I deleted social media from my phone as soon as the news broke, went home, and took an epsom salt bath. I could feel the news in my body and needed to release tension. I fell asleep for a long nap immediately after: I collapsed in the way your body only can after engaging a fight or flight response. I went and wandered in the woods these photos were taken for almost two hours after my nap. I listened to “A Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet” on audiobook. I needed my head to be in the stars and my eyes in nature. The initial anger of the news would never carry me long enough to work on building a better society. Yesterday, I was debating internally if I should change my first name to Envy and had my top top surgery consultation. Today, I’m afraid for every cis women and trans person I know. I keep coming back to the same Mariame Kaba quote: “Let this radicalize you rather than lead you to despair”. I think it’s vital we each find what “the work and radicalization” means for us and keep moving forward. It’s not taboo to have hope: There are many more people that don’t realize they hold power and could help than there are people terrorizing others. We can’t see everything that everyone does, but when I get overwhelmed, I try to see the people that are trying to help. Find your community, finding your group, being a helper in a role bigger than yourself? That’s how we build an irresistible alternative to this hodgepodge harm of our society.”
Camille, They/Them
“I'm lucky to have amazing friends in Portland who love me for exactly who I am. For the first year or so after coming out, I really struggled with isolation and had to work through a lot of growing pains. It's been really incredible to see that as I've learned more about myself, and leaned more into my authenticity, my life has become so full of friendship, connection, and love. The energy from my queer community has helped me achieve some goals that have felt incredible, like making zines and learning how to play guitar! I feel really lucky that I get to be myself and I wish that for everybody, especially my trans and gender nonconforming homies (trans flag trans flag). And yeah, if there are any queers in Portland who watch One Piece hit me up!”
Sosanya, She/Her
Sosanya is a Cambodian-American queer woman who has lived in southern Maine ever since she immigrated to the US as an infant from the refugee camps in Thailand with her family. She is currently working full-time for the MaineHealth Hospital Billing Dept and also volunteers as the secretary and a board member of the Khmer Maine Association. In her free time she enjoys drawing, crafting, nature walks, browsing the internet for funny and wholesome memes, trying new foods, and playing video games. Sosanya looks forward to helping build a more cohesive and stronger community with and for her fellow queer people. Being queer is crucial in a world that needs more individuals who have an overall different and unique perspective in life, which can help pave the way into a society where quality of life can be much better than it is today. She hopes to see a Maine with a future of more compassion and understanding for the queer community so there is truly more diversity, inclusion and equity within this state, which hopefully can spread into the rest of the country and the into the rest of the world.
Hedda, She/Her
Hedda is the person behind Primal Blossoms landcrafting & plantcare based in Southern Maine. In her work she strives to take an integrative approach to blend the needs of local flora and fauna with site specific preferences, giving outdoor spaces freedom to thrive long term.
Kaycee, She/Her
“Much Madness is divinest Sense —To a discerning Eye” - Emily Dickinson. I’ve always been passionate about exploring diversity and representation in the media. I grew up in Southern Maine, then made my way to Boston and eventually Los Angeles to work in TV production. After 6 years of working on various projects, including Netflix’s Grace & Frankie, I felt like it was time to go back to my roots. I’ve been back in Maine for about a year now and although it was hard at first, there is no other place I’d currently rather be. I love the Portland area and am hoping to continue to seek out community and carve out a place for me in this world. I love music, books, and playing tennis! (If anyone wants to play sometime hit me up!) Working on moving into the digital marketing/social media work sphere and love learning about the amazing Maine Queer community through this page.”
Annie, She/Her & Rachel, She/Her
“After working in public health and advocacy for years, I (Rachel) stumbled into wedding photography and fell in love with how transformative an affirming photo experience can be. Several years later, I get to live the dream and spend my time celebrating and documenting queer love, connection, and community. And best of all I get to do it with my partner (Annie) filming next to me.”
Maddie, She/They
“Pink velvet. Pleated denim. Sleeveless cable knits. Ankle-deep cowboy kicks. Canvas coveralls. Bird-print button-ups. Bowling silks. Mock Birkenstocks. Gym shorts, tube socks, and Docs. High-tops. Thrifted band tees and Lettermans. Discounted Bean boots. Duct-taped running shoes. Bowties, and nearly every shade of blue. Suffice it to say, I come out of the closet every day. It is where the conversation between my body and my queerness began, and where it continues. For me, style and queerness feel intrinsically linked. How else to explain the metaphorical thrill of pairing vintage plaid sweater vests with compression shorts, the past and the present – wool and spandex! – threading together against convention? And is it not flowers on a grave to keep the clothes of those we’ve lost and wear them out into the sunlight again, into life again? To question the design, to grieve and to heal – it’s all sewn into my history and wardrobe as a non-binary queer person. I try to wear my gay heart on my sleeves, socks, and hat brims, to dangle it from my right earlobe, to knot it at my collar, and loop it around my waist. That way, I might more readily reach it and offer it to you if ever we're to cross paths – or runways.”
AP, She/They
“I’m AP (she/they) and I work as a multi-dimensional artist native to Arizona and now in Maine. I love supporting other artists and am reaching to build a brand that strives for empathy and reminds us what it means to be a real human. You only have one life and I’m seeking to break the traditions and societal expectations that aren’t serving our best interests. I hope when people look at the work I do they ask themselves and others “what can I do to be more empathetic?” And “what in my life isn’t serving my deepest, truest desires?” I believe people will find that they have more in common with people of opposing views to them than they previously realized. Art can do many things and there are many ways to make art. Hopefully we all find what we really want in our lives, despite pushback, and let nothing stop us in achieving it.”
Lindz, They/Them
“I’m a queer and trans non-binary multi-hyphenate creator who mostly makes queer and trans media for kids and families. I write books and tv, I perform and act, and I run my own small online business. I grew up in New York but for some reason always dreamed of living in Maine. That was just a pipe dream for a long time, something I didn’t think would happen until retirement (what does that mean anyways?). My wife got an opportunity to move here summer of 2019 and after some initial hesitation we drove everything we had up north. We fell in love with life here. My work can be really hard, especially considering the current political climate where trans kids and queer education are under attack. But my mental health has improved so much because I’m able to shut off the hustle and bustle of my busy and sometimes fraught work days by driving my dog ten minutes to the beach for a picture perfect walk along the water complete with majestic light houses.”
Debbie, She/Her
“Hello, I’m a 58 yo transgender woman. I started HRT in March 2020 about a week before the country shut down for Covid.
There was so little going on for our community for the last two years…I felt so alone for that first year…but I made some connections. I feel like my transition has hit high gear this year…It’s been a year of firsts for me. I got my ears pierced. I decided to try purple hair. I have started to learn to dance. I went to my first art museum. I even went to a Goth dance party. But most rewarding of all, I feel I’ve found my tribe, my crowd, my people..Thank you all for accepting me into this wonderful community. Love to All , Deb.”
CJ, They/He
“I started lifting weights at the beginning of my medical transition in 2017 to feel safer and more at home in my body. I suffer from severe depression and anxiety and I soon found that lifting helped my mood and helped to regulate my nervous system. This is the main reason why I’ve stuck with it and have a passion for sharing it with others!
I wanted to start the Authentic Strength Project with the purpose of uplifting those who have never felt comfortable, safe, or accepted in gym spaces and allow them the opportunity to explore their bodies through strength training. Free from the unwanted messages of toxic fitness culture and diet culture. I want to make fitness more supportive of diverse bodies and to see the immense beauty they provide. My wish is for those diverse bodies to experience joyful movement, embodiment, and the satisfaction of strength. You are the expert on You; your body, experiences, and feelings. I want to hold a shame free space which encourages that intuition and is focused on honesty and on honoring where we are in each specific moment. Where people can find fulfillment in their movement journey and not exercise out of fear, guilt, or compensation. I’ve been working for some time to become a Certified Strength Coach and recently received my certification. I am in the beginning stages of exploring how I can put this to use in our community! If strength or resistance training is something you’ve wanted to explore and didn’t know where to start, or just if any of my message resonates with you feel free to reach out.”
René, She/Her
“I am a queer, black, indigenous, South African, activist who has been living on stolen Wabanki Land for 31 years. I serve as Founder and Lead consultant of Embodied Equity, a small local LLC and Healing Arts Center, founded in 2018. As well as Lead Designer for The Ensemble of Color, a local nonprofit theater and performance collective, found it in 2015. I have always been a standard in this community. Very ecstaticly in my Black Femme Queerness. I am a walking demonstration of self love, of joy, of freedom. I am changing the world every day by changing myself.”
Topher, He/Him
“I'm out here chasing bliss, wondering all the while if here is where I’m meant to be. Sure, people have greeted me with open arms, a seat at the table and communities have become family, but what can I offer beyond what I consume and produce? Is the care I offer to this new land, to the people who were here before me enough? Am I giving to the culture here or only a gluttonous consumer and gentrifier? Many Mainers are all too familiar with the practice of discouraging outsiders from calling this place home: from the Irish, to the French Canadian, to the most recent Somali communities. Despite holding identities outside these communities, I still find myself inhabiting a body that does not look like your "typical Mainer". I grew up in LA (Los Angeles not Lewiston-Auburn) and moved here to get an education only to fall in love with the land. I felt claustrophobic at first, constantly bombarded with whiteness, but I like to think I've found the confidence to show up fully and make space for those on the fringes. It's a lot better than thinking I've just grown numb to it all. Bliss is what I find when I get on those 8 wheels. Wind billowing through my hair and earrings jangling along to the mellifluous melodies merrily playing through my phone. Childlike discoveries are made with every spin, fall, and jump. And, I find that this is exactly where I'm meant to be.”
Jo, They/Them
“I spent the majority of my industrial welding career as a boilermaker. There I found all the excitement, travel, adrenaline, accolades and money I had ever wanted. However, in the Spring of 2020 a veil was lifted, and I had to remove myself from the toxic environment I had so deeply embraced and adapted to. The racism, sexism and homophobia was rampant, and I suddenly realized how complacent I had become. I had taken on a mask of toxic masculinity as a survival mechanism, and not only that but I had subconsciously become a raging capitalist. When I left, I took time to heal. I began working on identifying how I had allowed myself to fall so deeply into this harmful culture. As I began studying my own racist and sexist tendencies, I was suddenly awakened to the fact that I had been able to blend in so easily because I myself identified as one of the boys, one of the straight white males who coasted through life with all the privilege in the world. And this was in fact how I discovered my transness. Eventually I came to the realization that the only way to make the trades a safe place would be to dilute the current demographic. People's Inclusive Welding was established with the hope of creating a new wave of tradespeople, one that does not participate in the gatekeeping and toxic behavior of the current skilled trades industry. I am so lucky to have found an amazing team to support me and my dream of creating an inclusive welding school in which ALL demographics of folks can feel safe. PIW is the program I wish I had had as a queer person. It's my reparation for the complacency I adopted, and it's my version of mutual aid to folks who want a leg up into a new career. It's a dream come true to see it come to fruition, and I can't wait to see where we go from here.”
Joey, He/Him
“I was born and raised in southern Maine and spent a lot of time trying to convince myself that I’m something that I’m not. Over the last three years I have discovered a lot about who I am and who I want to be, and have never been happier. No one should ever be ashamed of who they are, and know that the people around them will love and support them no matter what. I’m currently the most “me” I’ve ever been and I don’t plan on looking back.”
Thomas, He/They
“I have lived in Portland for almost 20 years and am blessed to be part of such a big beautiful community. My time here in Portland has gifted my the opportunity to wear many hats: nanny, bartender, performer, restaurant manager and drag queen. I’d say it’s the hat of friendship that’s the biggest blessing!”
Kasey, He/Him
“I discovered longsword fencing because I wanted to fight with swords, but I fell in love with it and Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) for the community and friendships I made. My first instructors and club embraced that I was gay, which was welcome to me in a world where other sports had for many years seemed foreign and out of reach. It's a huge honor to start and run a HEMA club here in Maine. When I'm fighting or sparring-- I feel so full, alive, and honestly... I just have a lot of fun doing it. I want Moose Historical Fencing to be a space where everyone can have that, and where anyone can train safely and grow as fighters and as people."
Em, She/They
“My magical practice is rooted in the alchemy of queerness, the ability to shape shift on a whim and thrive in a world that is often hostile to many aspects of my identity. I feel like "outing" myself as a witch has been similar to coming out as a queer femme, it's always been a core part of my soul, but I felt afraid to embrace it because of the violence and misogyny associated with witchcraft. I prioritize authenticity above all, and use my learned and intrinsic power as a healer to help clients reclaim themselves as sovereign beings. I use esoteric tools like tarot and energy work to gain clarity on what would serve their needs best. I believe that healing magic should be accessible to all, and would love to help support folks on their journeys! Feel free to reach out if my work resonates."
Jules, She/Her
“Recently I’ve been doing passion trades with friends where we each share something that we love to do that the other one wants to learn. So far I’ve done plant care for bread baking, sound design for film photography, and weight lifting for fiddle bowing tricks. One friend even did an in depth birth chart reading for me! It’s been a super lovely way of spending time one on one with people I love and sharing a little bit of our sparks. If anyone wants to trade a passion let me know!”
Connor, He/Him
“Home grown Portlander and Hair stylist at the Raven salon. Hair is my art and I love making people feel beautiful, and confident. I enjoy helping people express their individuality with unique styles.”
Otis, He/Him
“Portland is home, but Pandemic Portland has made me feel like an outsider. And yet, disruptions like the ones we’ve collectively endured these past two years beckon regrowth, reinvention, reinforcement, revolution, RESURGAM! I discovered my love for sewing and textiles during this time and I’m eager to share with my budding community. Find my work at @0tisito_designs or (hopefully) at your local craft market.”
Marpheen, He/Him
“I spent a lot of my 20s being an overachiever, trying to make a difference, being the first in my family to graduate college and go to law school and grad school, running for office, writing a book. Now that I’ve turned 30, I’m realizing that I can take a moment, pause, and breathe. I feel now that I know I can do it and I’ve got what it takes to succeed in my professional life, I’ve realized I put a lot of my personal life on hold. Time with family, going on dates, time to deepen friendships. Of course COVID had taught me that as well. So I’m entering a whole new decade of my life with personal goals.”
Will, He/Him
“So happy to be where I am in life after staying closeted most of it. I am proud to be a part of the senior community. Yes, seen a few summers, so let’s just say 60 something and leave it at that. Love being eclectic, so the term Queer fits me perfectly. I avoid negatively in life as much as I possibly can but it still happens. I gravitate toward the type of people that are positive, kind, fun and creative, they are my safety zone. The meaning of life to me in a plain nutshell is learning, especially from other people. A child at heart, simple things will always amuse me. Give me a holiday and I am there to celebrate it. I embrace who I am, proud of it, wouldn’t change a thing. I live everyday by - ‘Lucky To Be Different’.”
Emily, She/Her
“Over the span of three years, Emily has made friends with her herd of friendly goats, caring for them in rotation with a group of invested friends while producing milks and cheeses, rearing cycles of goat kids, and simply enjoying the kind and understanding company that goats can so amply provide.”
Owen, He/Him
“The most difficult lesson I’ve ever had to learn in life is that it’s only in times of desperation and heartbreak that you really accept who you are, and it’s the lesson that’s shaped the way I live my life. Every time I’ve felt invalidated, shut down, rejected, or left behind, I’ve shed a chrysalis and become stronger. My philosophy in life is this: whenever someone tries to strip you of your own worth, let it dwell inside you and fuel you to live your life to the fullest and most expressive… and trust me, eventually they’ll know what they’re missing out on.”
Brigid, She/They
“The biggest thing I have learned over the past few years is the importance of spreading whimsy. I’m a mermaid, circus performer, fairy, and five million other things because there will always be someone who can use a smile or who could have their mood change by being temporarily transported to a more joyous moment. I have the power to help create the whimsical world I want to exist.” Brigid is Miss Mermaid Maine, Merfolk Maine, an international Autism advocate, and educator.
Murray, They/Them
“I find it so hard to talk about myself as an artist. I could never have imagined calling myself that when I was younger. I grew up with some significant motor skills issues and so art classes caused a lot of frustration for me in school. I was creative but not "artistic". Finding this medium has been so freeing for me. I am the only one I know who does it, so there's no way to compare myself to others. I can simply create and appreciate my work for what it is.Plus, there's the bonus vindication that comes with finally putting all the shiny junk I find on the ground to good use instead of just putting it in a box and moving to like 5 different apartments without ever unpacking it.”
El, They/Them
“Gender identity and gender expression aren't the same and understanding that helped me realize that enjoying stereotypically feminine things doesn't necessarily mean i'm a girl."
Bryan, They/Them
“It has been 27 years of sifting through, learning, and relearning the world around me and I’m still finding these crucial pieces of myself that had been buried by my own or another’s “good intentions. It’s truly never too late to go searching. It can take a long time but you are worth every bit of that effort."
Hannah, She/Her
“My passion as a Full Spectrum doula is to support clients through pregnancy termination and abortion. I am on the forefront of seeing how families and babies are being failed in our country, so of course I understand why abortion should always be an option to pregnant people. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 59% of people who get an abortion are already parents doing the best they can to raise their children. Even though a lot of my clients are extremely thankful for their abortion, over the years their feelings around the experience can ebb and flow. Healing truly is not linear in abortion care so I often have clients who come to me for support years after their experience. For me abortion care doesn’t always look like supporting someone through an abortion they are currently going through but some time after the procedure. I hold space for my birth and postpartum clients who may have emotions around their past abortion that resurface as they transition into parenthood. When we doulas block out abortion to only focus on birth and newborn babies we are doing a disservice to our clients. By not honoring abortion as a reproductive experience we are not providing client centered care around their emotional well-being and the full spectrum of their experiences. Clients deserve better than just care centered around babies.
If someone you love is going through an abortion, the best thing you can do is just follow their lead in what they need in that moment. I often hear clients say the people in their life invalidated their very real, valid emotions or even made them feel guilty for the feelings that came up for them. I find that it’s less about what you say to try to make them feel better and more about listening and creating space for them to feel comfortable sharing their story.”
Yūki, She/Her
“Coming out during a pandemic isn’t easy. But there comes a point when the world seems like such a dark and scary place that you realize is so much more painful to lie to yourself and others than to just be who you are and let things fall were they may. I’m proud of the family that has come out to support me and I hope when COVID is over to find a community in Maine I can be a part of.”
Krista, She/Her
“For almost two decades I have had the honor of serving not only our local queer community, but also humans from all over the world through consciousness and relationship design. We all experience barriers to our pleasure and energetic flow and when queerness is a part of our identity and evolution it takes courageous action to embody our wholeness. As a sexologist, I invite clients to intuitively transmute those barriers into power and bliss. I’m so grateful to serve every day by guiding humans to their highest consciousness for passionate, pleasure-led lives and loves. Living and breathing this path in my daily life informs my every connection and creation. May we all find our peace through openhearted pleasure.”
Nina, They/Them
“To me being a Queer African is to reconnect to my roots. I laugh every now and then when I repeat this mantra: ‘’How amazing that the universe knew people of kinds would be here now’’. There’s a joy in knowing that I am who I am and that is a part of my identity as a person. No one is ever just one thing, let’s rejoice in the multitude of all that we are!”
Vin, He/They
“You might know him as Vin Mercury, or Vince Reid, or Vincent Grant. You might know them as your local grocery store worker, singer-songwriter, yoga educator, queer community organizer or Law School-bound college student. After fleeing their hometown of Hollis, ME, Vince landed in Portland, and has called this place home for over three years. He intends to stay here for the rest of his life in order to help protect queer youth while also pursuing his own ambitions as an activist, artist and future public servant. He is proudly demisexual and polyamorous, and the father of two reptillian children: Thortoise the Tortoise and Loki the Lizard. In regards to gender identity, Vin describes themself as a non-binary trans man who enjoys keeping their gender expression playful. He hopes to see the day where all queer folk get to be their true authentic selves everyday, without fear, and with great love for themselves and the collective.”
Rene, She/Her
“Literally a week before the world shut down I signed a job contract that said I would move here in 3 months for at least 5 years. Moving to a new place where you don't know anyone (in the middle of a pandemic nonetheless) has been a trying experience - especially since I am very much an extrovert! In the last year and a half I've fallen in love with Maine - the woods, the water, the nature in any season, really. And knowing that's how I feel being here before even truly discovering a queer community only makes me that much more excited for the future.”