As one of the main organizers, I would like to speak to some of the questions and concerns I’ve seen about Rockland's proposed "Resolution Of Commitment To Promoting An Open, Respectful, Healthy Community." I also want to encourage all of you, whether you support the resolution as currently written or not, to attend the Rockland City Council workshop to discuss the resolve on March 6 at Rockland City Hall. The Council meeting starts at 5:30, with the workshop happening later in the evening. Supporters will be handed rainbow pins as they enter.

Some people think the resolution is unnecessary because they believe it is redundant with the founding documents or premise of the United States. But let's remember that when those documents were signed, the U.S. was still enslaving people from Africa, women were firmly oppressed, and the country was slaughtering Native people. We need, frequently, to update, restate and reflect on our commitments to the concept of liberty and justice for all. Furthermore, what we mean by "ALL" needs to be articulated in detail. If we simply say “we support everyone," some groups will not be sure if they are really included in that "everyone"—indeed, historically and even today, many groups have specifically NOT even been considered fully human (I am thinking of Blacks, Jews, Italians, the Irish, women, disabled people, people with mental health issues, Latinos, Asians, poor people, Natives, gay, lesbian, trans, bisexual, intersex, and transgender people). In any current statements of diversity, we need to be clear that we are supportive of as many specific, various groups as possible.

Another question I’ve seen: Is harassment really a problem in midcoast Maine? Yes, it is. But we should scrutinize our need to see "proof", and what we count as “proof”? Why do we so often need to hear evidence from people in positions of authority, rather than from those with first-hand experience (many of whom do not officially report attacks or other harassment)? Additionally, sometimes people will share their experiences, even their scars, and still people will turn away from them, frequently blaming the victim.

YES, harassment and brutality is a problem in midcoast Maine, according to teachers and advocates in the local schools, OUT and New Hope for Women, people of color and LGBTQI students and others who report first-hand experiences of local harassment and violence arising specifically from the scapegoating and marginalizing of certain groups of people.

It is upsetting that harassment is occurring locally. We need to work to get at the heart of the problem and stand up for and support those most in danger and being targeted. Yet even if nothing like this was going on in our towns, we should still be proactively passing welcoming resolutions.

Some have stated this is intended to make Rockland a Sanctuary City. Sanctuary cities formally instruct their law enforcement agencies to not cooperate with federal immigration officials. While I have since been approached by quite a few Rocklanders who think this resolve is too solely symbolic, and would like us to push for sanctuary city status, that is not what this particular resolve does.

Another complaint is that this is a waste of city time. So, I say, then, let's pass it easily! We don't need to debate it endlessly!

Growing up locally, I did not know who was my ally, I did not know who supported me. While there may have been some hard-fought Maine state anti-discrimination laws on the books, my community did not appear on the whole to support difference. My school was rampant with homophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, classism and sexism, often echoed by teachers and the administration. How wonderful, then, to take a stand at the city level and make a statement on values of inclusivity. Perhaps we no longer tolerate the harassment that once seemed the norm when I was a kid in midcoast Maine. If so, let’s state that clearly.

There are a lot of things to be done locally, and we will continue to build networks of people who want to make great things happen in our city to make it be an ever more supportive, livable, fair place. Appleton, Hallowell, and South Portland have all passed similar resolutions. Belfast will be considering one shortly. I am excited to see Rockland lead the way on this, and many other tangible initiatives to come.

Becca Shaw Glaser lives in Rockland