The Senate is voting today on LD 1904, An Act to Prohibit the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) of a Minor--and we need YOUR HELP  to stop this dangerous & misleading bill from becoming law. 

But wait, what's wrong with wanting to stop FGM?

-  FGM is NOT  happening in Maine.There is ZERO evidence of FGM being practiced in Maine, and our State Attorney General has stated that the federal law is enough for her to prosecute if there were evidence of this practice being performed here. 

- Stirring up fear of criminalization in the Somali community--which is targeted by this bill--will only create more barriers to trusting health care providers, particularly in regards to reproductive and sexual health. We cannot stand for this!

- The bill is grounded in Islamophobia. The Southern Poverty Law Center identified that  the language of the bill is promoted by ACT for America, an anti-Muslim hate group. It seeks to link Islam to FGM, criminalize FGM, and then portray Islam as criminal and dangerous to women and girls. FGM is not a religious practice and it is not happening in our state.

Please call your Senators and Representatives TODAY and urge them to vote against LD 1904.  Let them know that Islamophobia and fear-mongering have no place in Maine's legislature or laws. Maine's Somali-American community has a right to be protected and respected, in their state house, in their neighborhoods, in their doctors' offices and everywhere.

Find contact information for your legislators here.