Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S.

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 state of Maine have some of the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexuals, however may face some legal issues not experienced by non-LGBT

LGBT

LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...

 residents.

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

Maine repealed its statutory criminalization of same-sex sexual activity in 1976.

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Maine established domestic partnerships for same-sex couples in April 2004.

On May 6, 2009, the state enacted a law to allow same-sex marriage in Maine

Same-sex marriage in Maine

Same-sex marriage in Maine is currently unrecognized. A bill to allow same-sex marriages in Maine was signed into law on May 6, 2009, by Governor Baldacci following legislative approval, but opponents successfully petitioned for a referendum on the issue, putting the law on hold before it went into...

. Before the law went into effect, it was repealed by referendum

Maine Question 1, 2009

Maine Question 1 was a voter referendum conducted in Maine in 2009 that repealed a state law that legalized same-sex marriage in the state. The measure passed 53%-47% on November 3, 2009.-State law in question:...

on November 3, 2009.

Maine has provided benefits to sames-sex partners of state employees since 2001.

Adoption and parenting

Maine law permits single LGBT person and same-sex couple to petition to adopt.

Discrimination protection

The Maine Human Rights Act penalizes discrimination in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and education opportunity on the basis of sexual orientation or "actual or perceived...gender identity or expression."

Hate crime

Maine's hate crimes law has explicitly addresses sexual orientation. It does not address violence based on gender identity.

Gender reassignment

Transsexual individuals born in Maine may amend their birth certificates after they have undergone sex-reassignment surgery.