After hearing testimony from Governor Janet Mills and Maine Chief Justice Leigh Saufley in an historic joint appearance, the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee voted unanimously in favor of LD 1457, An Act To Make References to the Governor and Supreme Judicial Court Justices Gender Neutral, Thursday.
“Words are no small thing. They have the power to heal or harm, uplift or belittle, inspire or discourage, both implicitly and explicitly,” said Governor Mills. “To me, this legislation is about every Maine woman and girl knowing that she is equally deserving of the same opportunity and, equally capable of serving, as Governor of the state of Maine or as Chief, or Associate Justice on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.”
The legislation, sponsored by House Majority Leader Representative Matthew Moonen of Portland, changes language in the Maine Revised Statutes to make references to the Governor and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court and associate justices gender neutral. Currently, the Governor, Chief Justice, and Associate Justices are referred to in statute as “he”, “him”, or “his.”
The Judiciary Committee voted unanimously in favor of the legislation as amended to include a reasonable timeline for the revising of all titles in Maine statute to be gender neutral.
The two women, the heads of two of the three branches of Maine state government, each testified in support of amending Maine’s statutes to refer to state officials in a gender neutral fashion.
LD 1457 will be considered by the full Legislature in the coming weeks.
Governor Mills’ testimony as prepared is below:
Good afternoon Senator Carpenter, Representative Bailey, and esteemed members of the Judiciary Committee. My name is Governor Janet Mills, and I have the distinct honor of serving as Governor of the State of Maine.
I stand before you today in strong support of LD 1457, An Act to Make References to the Governor and Supreme Judicial Court Justices Gender Neutral.
I first want to thank House Majority Leader Representative Moonen for introducing this important legislation and express my gratitude to the committee for taking the time to thoughtfully consider it during today’s public hearing.
My career in public service was made possible by women who cut a path through institutions and customs built for men.
Women like Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby, the first registered Maine guide and a popular figure at the World’s Fair in New York City, where she created a stir by wearing a skirt that showed her ankles!
Women like Carrie Stevens from Upper Dam, Maine, creator of the “Grey Ghost” streamer fly and 150 other patterns which brought her national fame.
Women like Isabel Greenwood of Farmington, a staunch women’s rights advocate whose candle shone under a barrel, her writing, intelligence and determination overshadowed by her prominent husband Chester, the inventor of earmuffs, wide bottom kettles, spring steel rakes, matchbooks with advertising, and the like.
And Margaret Chase Smith, who, in her first Senate election, opposed three prominent men, including two wealthy former governors whom she soundly defeated by a margin of three to one.
I learned the values of Yankee independence, courage, and a little bit of stubborn self-reliance from these women.
I also learned from the distinguished career of Caroline Duby Glassman, the first woman to serve on Maine’s highest court.
I think about them often, but I also think about the young women who are looking to us for the same guidance.
I think more about what it is like, not for me, but for young girls in this state to see the first woman governor of Maine — girls like eight-year old Lucy, who wrote to me after the election and said, “Now I feel like I could become governor someday!”
While I am honored to serve as Maine’s first woman governor, I do not support this legislation solely because of that fact.
I support it because I want my granddaughters and grandsons, and children - boys and girls, including Lucy- to grow up in a state that has proven it believes in equality for all, regardless of gender or identity.
Words are no small thing. They have the power to heal or harm, uplift or belittle, inspire or discourage, implicitly and explicitly.
To me, this legislation is about every Maine woman and girl knowing that she is equally deserving of the same opportunity and, equally capable of serving, as Governor of the state of Maine or as Chief, or Associate Justice on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
My time as governor will pass and while I know there will be more women governors to follow, implementing this change in law will demonstrate our commitment to equal treatment under the law – a covenant that lies at the very foundation of every branch of government.
Today I ask the committee to send a message to future generations that gender is not a gatekeeper or barrier to the success they can achieve in life and in Maine.
Thank you, and I would be happy to take your questions.