About

This blog endeavors to provide information on legal issues and developments for Maine members of the LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, or Allies) community.

The blog authors are Alice A. Neal and Zack M. Paakkonen, attorneys at West End Legal, LLC in Portland, Maine.   Their firm handles a variety of legal issues for all clients, including family law, bankruptcy, estate planning and probate, criminal law, general civil litigation, civil rights or discrimination cases, and a variety of other matters related to the LGBTQIA community.  Each attorney is a rostered Guardian ad Litem for both family law and child protective cases.

Alice and Zack are actively engaged in community events.  Alice is an advisor to PRYSM (Proud Rainbow Youth of Southern Maine).  She sings with Women in Harmony and serves on their board of directors, and is also a past member of the board of directors of Southern Maine GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network).  Zack is the current editor of the Family Affairs Newsletter, a statewide social events e-mail newsletter for the LGBTQI community.  Zack and Alice are both members of the National LGBT Bar Association and its associated Family Law Institute and Transgender Law Institute.   Zack serves on the Executive Committee of the Family Law Institute.  Their law firm is a member of the Rainbow Business Professional Association (RBPA), where Zack was a former board member.  The firm also belongs to the DownEast Pride Alliance (DEPA), and Portland Buy Local.  Both Alice and Zack have presented at conferences for the LGBTQIA community and professionals serving that community on legal topics.