Call Governor Mills: Keep Maine Prisons Single Sex
LD 1044 would place male offenders in Maine women’s prisons based on their “gender identity.” As of Tuesday, June 15th, LD 1044 has passed both the House and the Senate without a floor debate or roll call. It is now headed to the governor’s desk. WoLF has previously written about the disastrous consequences that women will face if this bill becomes law. This is our last chance to stop LD 1044 and keep Maine prisons single-sex.
We are calling on Governor Janet Mills of Maine to veto LD 1044!
Take action by calling Governor Mills and asking her to VETO LD 1044.
Here’s how:
Call her office at 207-287-3531.
Choose option 4 to leave a message. (The process is automated so you won’t speak to a live person.)
Speak from the heart, or use one of our sample scripts below.
Optional: Film yourself making the call, post the video on social media, and tag us!
Sample scripts
“Hello, I am calling to ask you to please veto LD 1044, An Act To Protect the Rights of Certain Incarcerated Individuals. As a progressive and a feminist, I am terrified of what will happen to the incarcerated women of Maine if they are forced to be housed with male inmates. In states that have passed bills like this, there are already records proving that female prisoners have been raped by these men. This is cruel and unusual punishment, and incarcerated women have no voice in the matter. As you know, incarcerated women are America's most marginalized--they are overwhelmingly low income, women of color, and survivors of abuse. I urge you to stand up for these women by vetoing this bill. Defending the well-being of women is a vital progressive value. Thank you for your time.”
“Hi, I urge you to please veto LD 1044, An Act To Protect the Rights of Certain Incarcerated Individuals. This bill would allow male criminals to be housed in women's prisons based only on their self-declared gender identity, regardless of their history of violence or sexual offenses. Prisons are separated by sex for a reason--to keep women safe from male violence. It is incredibly irresponsible and dangerous to allow men in women’s prisons. If this bill becomes law, incarcerated women will be forced to sleep, shower, and use the bathroom with no privacy from men. I hope that you can see this for the horrific violation of women’s rights that this is. Please, be on the right side of history by vetoing this bill.“
“I ask that you please respect the safety, dignity, and human rights of Maine's incarcerated women and veto LD 1044. Allowing men to self identify into women’s prisons violates the internationally recognized rights of prisoners, exposing them to an increased risk of sexualized violence. In states like California and Washington, we are already seeing the devastating impact of policies like these on women. If LD 1044 becomes law, women will be hurt, women will be assaulted, and women will be violated. It is in your power to stop this. Please, veto LD 1044.”
“Governor Mills, you have championed women’s rights all of your life. I ask that you please apply these values and veto LD 1044, which would allow violent men to be housed in women’s prisons. Maine’s incarcerated women are no different from the domestic violence survivors you advocated for early in your public service career. In fact, as you may know, 8 out of 10 justice-involved women have experienced abuse, and many incarcerated women are in prison due to their experiences of male violence. Putting men in women’s prisons will traumatize these women and put them at risk of further abuse. I hope that you will stand up for the incarcerated women of Maine by vetoing LD 1044.”
You can also write to Governor Mills using our online form below.
