Stop the Stigma Campaign

Maine

On February 22, 2001, Representative Elaine Fuller introduced HB 864.  The bill would remove references to "illegitimates" or "bastards" in Maine statutes and would substitute the phrase "child born to an unwed mother."

The bill was referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and the Senate concurred with the referral to that committee.

The bill is cosponsored by the following Representatives: Bonnie Green, Thomas J. Kane, Monica McGlocklin, Robert W. Nutting, Judith Peavey, Joanne T. Twomey, Susan W. Longley, and Betty Lou Mitchell.

On April 23, 2001, AASP sent a letter to each of these legislators, thanking them for their leadership on this issue.

The bill was amended to remove only the term "bastard" so that legislators could have more time to form an agreement as to a term to replace "illegitimate."

We are pleased to report that the amended bill passed both houses and has been signed into law by the Governor in May 2001.

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