Fifty years ago, the State of Maine passed a law that said: "To protect the public health, safety and welfare, it is declared to be the policy of this State to keep continually in review all practices infringing on the basic human right to a life with dignity, and the causes of these practices, so that corrective measures may, where possible, be promptly recommended and implemented."
This is still the law in Maine, and it is still a matter of public health, safety and welfare that unlawful discrimination occurs in Maine.
The Maine Human Rights Commission stands independently to perform its "duty of investigating all conditions and practices within the State which allegedly detract from the enjoyment, by each inhabitant of the State, of full human rights and personal dignity." Our mandate remains to investigate "all forms of invidious discrimination, whether carried out legally or illegally, and whether by public agencies or private persons ... [and] to recommend measures calculated to promote the full enjoyment of human rights and personal dignity by all the inhabitants of this State."
The Commissioners and staff of the Maine Human Rights Commission are here to stand with all Mainers seeking the right to life with dignity. We are here to investigate invidious discrimination, whether carried out legally or illegally and whether by public agencies or private persons.
The MHRC is independent and neutral, though far from perfect.
We are here to listen to you and learn from you.
We have not wavered, and we will not.