MaineTransNet
Gender Terminology: The Wonderful World of Spectra
Information for Families and Significant Others
Everything you need to know about being transgender
Connect with others near you
The mother of all links pages
Have something to say? Find writing about a variety of trans-related issues
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About
Maine Transgender Network, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about gender identity and raising awareness of the varied forms of gender expression. We provide resources to the trans community of Maine, as well as consultation, education, and trainings to social service/mental health professionals and interested others.
We have
experience providing private consultation and support to trans individuals and
the people in their lives. We come from a variety of backgrounds and have many
different experiences related to gender identity. We are available to
communicate via email or to meet in person.
We provide monthly peer support groups for transgender individuals in
Portland and Bangor. We organize regular community-building
and social networking events
for the trans community and our allies. We collaborate with other
LGBT-oriented organizations in initiatives that empower the LGBT
community of Maine.
We educate the
public about gender by speaking to groups such as classes, faith groups, and
social service agency staff and clients. We give informational presentations and
facilitate discussions related to gender diversity. Please contact us if you
would like us to come speak to your group or organization. We are also available
to attend and speak at various diversity-oriented events in schools and in the
community.
Please explore the rest of this website for answers to commonly asked questions,
practical guidance for transitioning, space for transgender individuals and
significant others to share their experiences, and helpful links to other
resources.
MaineTransNet depends on donations from generous folks like you to help us further our mission.
See our How to Help page
for more information about giving to this organization.
Executive Director
Alex Roan - Executive Director(alex@mainetransnet.org)
Executive Director's Corner See what Alex is up to and what his vision for MaineTransNet looks like.
Alex is an FTM trans person with an M.S. in clinical mental health counseling from the University of Southern Maine. He is an LCPC-c (licensed clinical professional counselor, con'd), and the proud owner of seven cute guinea pigs. Alex is working towards a Ph.D. in Human Services/Counseling Studies from Capella University (ABD since Nov. 2009) and also a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from USM. He is writing a dissertation on the experiences of parents of transgender individuals. Alex has recently received funding to make a more in-depth follow up video to "Gender Outside the Box," a low low low-budget documentary on the experiences of gender variant people in Maine.
Board of Directors
Branden Parker
, MSW - President
Branden is an FTM trans person and holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University
of Southern Maine. He graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice
Academy and was a police officer for 13 years before deciding to
resign his appointment and return to school in 2005.
Branden came to MaineTransNet in 2007 and was elected President of the Board in 2009. He strives to lead by example, and advocates for for a more trans-positive world by challenging norms, and educating the trans and cis communities alike. He is active in many trans and queer causes and loves to cook, fish, sew and turn wrenches. He resides in Westbrook, Maine with his partner Christina, their cat Mia and two dogs, Daisey and Emma.
Lisa Bunker - Vice President
Lisa spends her days writing, empowering people to make radio, and parenting her two eccentric teenagers. She works as Program Director of WMPG, Portland's community radio station. Lisa tries to walk at least a mile everyday, and when she needs to avoid her responsibilities for a while she plays classical piano or internet chess. Her blog about her gender transition can be found at www.genderbendy.com.
Alison Ouellette - Treasurer
(ali@mainetransnet.org)
Alison has
worked in the mental health/social service field for several years with
children, adults, and families in residential settings and in a case management
capacity. She currently works at a Portland homeless shelter. Alison is an
experienced group leader and a very enthusiastic person! She is an ally to the
trans community and is dedicated to raising awareness about trans issues and
working for trans equality.
Christina Hart - Secretary
Christina currently works at Maine Medical Center as a Registered Nurse
on a surgical unit and holds a Bachelors Degree in Nursing and
a Bachelor's Degree in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Southern Maine. Her interest and work with the GLB
and T community has been in existence since her infancy at USM.
Christina is the partner of a FTM transguy and the proud mother of two
lovely pit bulls.
What sums up Christina's lifestyle: when her Ipod was stolen she bought a record player.
Jamie-Lynn Kane
- Director of Education, Training, and Support Services
(jamie@mainetransnet.org)
Jamie
currently works in retail food sales, but prefers to spend her time
contributing towards the creation of a more gender equitable society.
She is involved in transsexual and feminist activism, and when not out
fighting misogyny and transphobia where it occurs she prefers to lounge
around the Lady Positive with her two amazingly radical roommates
munching on black beans and pop corn and drinking her roommate Julia’s
hodgepodge varieties of teas.
As
Director of Education, Training and Support Services, Jamie coordinates training
opportunities and speaking engagements, as well as leading and
co-leading several of our support and activity groups. Her mission is
to help the band of gender rebels who call themselves MaineTransNet in
their daily mission to do good work by challenging heterosexist, and
cissexual-sexist assumptions about gender and sex, and by providing a
community in need with peer support in their own struggles with
cissexual tyranny.
Jamie has worked as a researcher and an educator at the Osher Map Library in Portland and is currently working towards the completion of a Masters degree in American and New England Studies at the University of Southern Maine; if she could only get that darn thesis done!
Daralyn "Dal" Maxwell - Director of Development 
Daralyn (Dal) Maxwell lives on a cove in Freeport, Maine. She is now making time to further investigate her creative side through writing and photography; lifelong avocations. Through her pens and lens, nature is pure, honest and unyielding in its integrity, displaying perpetual change that reflects into her soul and drives her to achieve its likeness ......
Among her many past pursuits were broadcasting on community radio in both Vermont and Maine. She is a member of a local Mah Jongg group known as the Maine Mah Jongg Mavens, and is in the process of writing three novels. In May 2006, she succumbed to kidney disease and became a dialysis patient. The consequence of that is that it had limited her activities but had not dampened her artistic pursuits. In May 2010 she was the recipient of a healthy young kidney.
As the Director of
Development, Dal will be pulling out all the stops to insure
MaineTransNet's financial viability. Don't be surprised if she
calls YOU and asks for a donation!
Tallis is an
FTM trans person and holds a Bachelors Degree in Womens Studies & Classics
from the
Tallis
volunteered and coached the Old Town Regional Special Olympics team. He has also
held a position and led an Incest Survivors support group. Currently Tallis is
working on a secondary degree that focuses on psychosocial rehabilitation in
the human services field.
Tallis found a
home at MaineTransNet in 2009, where he
currently holds
the official title of Coordinator of Bangor Area Operations. He resides in
(c)Maine Transgender Network, Inc., 2011