Ryan Fecteau

Ryan Michael Fecteau is a Democratic member of the Maine House of Representatives. He represents District 11 which comprises a portion of the city of Biddeford in Southern Maine. Fecteau is the second youngest member of the legislature and the youngest openly gay state representative in the United States.^[1]

Personal

Ryan Fectau was born in Biddeford, Maine to Shara LaBrecque (remarried), a senior caregiver, and Marc Fecteau, a small business owner in the building industry. The Fecteau family moved to Biddeford in 1964 from Packington, Quebec. Fecteau's father was very young at the time of the move and remains a Canadian citizen to this day. His family made the move in order to earn a living in the Biddeford Textile Mills which comprised the economic engine of the Biddeford-Saco area at the time.^[2] Fecteau's grandparents, father, aunt, and mother all worked in the textile mills at various points in time. Currently, Fecteau serves on the Board of Directors for the Biddeford Mills Museum.^[3] Fecteau is the oldest of two children in his family. He attended school in Saco, Maine until his family moved to Biddeford, Maine in 2005. He subsequently graduated from Biddeford High School in 2010 and The Catholic University of America in 2014.

Education

During his time at The Catholic University of America, Fecteau became the first openly gay Speaker of the Student Association.^[4] He joined a coalition of students, religious leaders, and professional staff in advocating for the official recognition of CUAllies, a student organization aimed at providing a safe and supportive network for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer students and their allies. His efforts failed when President John Garvey denied the request for official recognition.^[5] However, Fecteau's efforts did lead to a "Community Pledge" which marked the first time an official Catholic University document used "sexual orientation" since administrators removed such language from its non-discrimination clause in 2006.^[6]

Awards

Fecteau received the 2015 Youth Innovator of the Year award from The Trevor Project at their annual TrevorLIVE event at the Marriott Marquis in New York City on June 15, 2015.^[7] The Trevor Project is a non-profit organization and the leading organization focused on suicide prevention among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth.

Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project Abbe Land stated, “The Trevor Project is proud to honor longtime supporters and allies Sir Ian McKellan, Maine Representative Ryan Fecteau, and Johnson & Johnson. We want to acknowledge their dedication and support for the LGBTQ community. We have felt the progress of their commitment to raise awareness for the issues the LGBTQ community faces, to promote advocacy for equal rights, and to foster the responsibility that every person should provide service for their community.”

In his speech at the event, Fecteau cited his coming out experience as having been supported by The Trevor Project's social networking website "TrevorSpace" which is a safe, moderated forum for young LGBT and questioning persons.^[8] He also spoke to his experience as a staffer for Mainers United for Marriage on the red carpet prior to the event. He correctly predicted the work to change hearts and minds across the country would result in a positive Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage.^[9]

Election History

References