Unity Maine
Check out some of your favorite neighbors' public opinions on human rights topics!
In May 2023, an organization in Unity, Maine, presented a proposal to the town select board to decorate for LGBT Pride Month. Despite receiving approval from the select board, the organization faced immediate online resistance from a small but vocal group of townspeople. While the initial resistance was justified as a concern about taxpayer dollars being used to celebrate a holiday that did not represent everyone in the community, the online discussions quickly devolved into hate speech, revealing that the motivations behind the resistance had little to do with funding. Despite the planned events receiving widespread public support, on Saturday, May 13th, 2023, a resident named Eric Warman prepared and distributed a petition with the explicit intention of "stopping ALL decorating of Unity town property in support of Pride Month." The following, obtained through the Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA), is a list of Unity residents who felt compelled to send a message to the LGBTQIA+ community that they were not welcome in Unity, Maine.
It has come to our attention that some individuals were given false information or lied to when signing this petition. If you believe that you or someone you know signed in error or were deceived please reach out to report-fraud@unitydoesnthate.com to have your information redacted. We also encourage you to contact the local authorities to report this deception.
See someone that you know and care about on this site? Use this as an opportunity to have meaningful conversation about why they may feel the way they do, and to share how your experiences have given you a different perspective.
The petition at the time of filing had only received 90 valid signatures out of >2200 residents.
After review, the petition was ruled invalid by the town attorney.
Hate and discrimination will not win in Unity, Maine.
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