Maine Updates Gender Identity Protections Under the Human Rights Act
By Joel Riley
Maine enacted LD 707 updating the Human Rights Act to clarify protections for gender identity and gender expression as protected characteristics. Effective upon signing in April 2023.
What Changed
Maine enacted LD 707 (HP 476), titled "An Act To Update The Maine Human Rights Act With Respect To Gender Identity." Signed by the Governor on April 24, 2023, the law updates and clarifies protections for gender identity and gender expression under the Maine Human Rights Act.
The law defines gender identity or expression as "the gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual's assigned sex at birth." This update ensures clear, comprehensive protections against employment discrimination based on gender identity or expression.
Who Is Affected
All Maine employers subject to the Maine Human Rights Act. The protections apply to:
All employment decisions including hiring, firing, promotion, compensation, and terms and conditions of employment
Workplace harassment based on gender identity or expression
Both private and public employers
Where It Applies
Maine statewide.
When It Takes Effect
April 24, 2023 — effective upon the Governor's signature.
Why It Matters
While Maine has long provided protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, LD 707 updates and modernizes the statutory language to provide clearer and more comprehensive definitions. This reduces ambiguity and strengthens enforcement by giving the Maine Human Rights Commission a more precise statutory framework to work with.
The Humareso Take
This is largely a clarification and modernization of existing protections rather than a brand-new requirement. If your Maine EEO policies already covered gender identity and expression, you are likely in good shape. That said, it is worth confirming that your policy language aligns with the updated statutory definitions. A quick review now prevents headaches later.
Recommended Action Steps
Review your EEO and anti-discrimination policies to confirm they include gender identity and gender expression as protected characteristics, using language consistent with the updated definitions.
Update your employee handbook if needed to reflect the clarified protections.
Contact your Humareso representative if you need assistance reviewing your Maine compliance policies.
✅ Recommended Action Steps
Originally posted by Joel Riley on 2023-07-06T16:35:45.833Z in Humareso Team > Compliance channel.