AUBURN — Outright Lewiston-Auburn and the Maine Transgender Network have announced the next phase in their relationship as organizations. MaineTransNet is serving as Outright L/A’s new fiscal sponsor, formalizing a long-standing programmatic partnership aimed at serving transgender youth.

Under the new relationship, MaineTransNet acts as a financial home for Outright L/A, managing the program’s resources, while keeping their funds separated. The relationship allows Outright L/A to benefit from MaineTransNet’s nonprofit status, but the partnership is about more than money, according to Outright L/A Program Director Chai Johnson.

“Outright and MaineTransNet have run workshops together, shared space, and shared the expertise of our volunteers and staff. This is the next logical step for our work together. About 85% of Outright’s youth are trans. When they age out of our programs at 21, they find themselves alone. Working with MaineTransNet ensures continuity of community for these young adults and makes sure they’re not left out in the cold,” Johnson said. “Outright L/A will continue to be an independent, locally run community group but we’ll benefit from the structure and resources MTN has to share with us.”

Outright L/A and MaineTransNet offer similar services, focusing on community building work through peer based social and support groups. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, staff of both organizations had to adapt their programs to an online environment and sought advice from each other throughout this process. It sparked a conversation about how the two organizations could collaborate to achieve their goals.

“Our mission is to support trans Mainers. Outright L/A is a key partner in doing that,” said Jason Richardson, president of MaineTransNet. “Their programs are life-saving for trans youth — especially those facing homelessness. We want to be a part of that work, and becoming their fiscal sponsor is a key way for us to do that. We’ll help make their programs more sustainable, and they will help us build relationships and improve our services in a region where we aren’t present enough. It’s a win-win.”