Media cover UMaine student’s lecture, book signing
The Bangor Daily News, WABI (Channel 5) and WVII (Channel 7) reported on a lecture and book signing by University of Maine student Nicole Maines and her father Wayne, director of safety and environmental management at UMaine. The Maines family is the subject of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Amy Ellis Nutt’s book “Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family.” Nicole spoke about her experiences as a transgender youth and Wayne spoke about the family’s journey. “It was the first time that I’ve been able to say thank you to the people who supported us,” Nicole told media after the lecture, calling the event a form of closure. “It’s been a really rewarding experience and it’s brought not only our family closer together, but people from around the world are sending us emails and letters saying ‘Thank you so much. You’re helping us learn,’” Wayne told WABI at the book signing. “And I think that’s what needs to come out of the book, to get people who might not normally read it to read it and learn things they never thought possible. I had to.”