Obama Talks Health Care in Maine (April 2, 2010) — “Just seeing the president in person, getting the chance to be part of this, is historic,” said Leah Bartley of Lewiston, a volunteer who helped organize the event. “I'm for health care because I care a lot about small businesses and there are so many people in Maine that just don't have access to good health care, so I'm happy that changes are being made”... [Full Article]

Leah Bartley Works with Secret Service to Find LGBTQ Singers for Obama Visit — Leah Bartley, DownEast Pride Alliance (DEPA) co-founder, received an exciting phone call recently. What she assumed to be an ordinary telemarketing call was instead a gentleman from the Secret Service Department calling regarding President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to Portland on Thursday, April 1... [Full Article]

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Doesn't Matter: South Portland Military Museum Hosts "Spectacular Soiree" (February 25, 2010) — A showcase of gay-friendly wedding services finally had its day more than three months after it was originally scheduled. The event dubbed a "spectacular soiree" for attendees of the DownEast Pride Alliance, a local network of gay-friendly businesses, was originally scheduled for November.... [Full Article]

Gay Networking Event Promotes "Wedding" Services (February 18, 2010) — The DownEast Pride Alliance had hoped that gay couples would be planning their weddings when the group scheduled a large business networking event last year. The idea was to offer event services such as catering, flowers & professional photography, all of which could be used for a gay couple's wedding... [Full Article]

LEAH BARTLEY RECIPIENT OF AWARD (Nov 20, 2009) — Leah Bartley, DEPA Co-Founder, has won the Corporate Entrepreneur Award by the Maine Democratic Party’s 2nd Annual Tribute to Maine Women Leaders!... [Full Article]

Portland Phoenix— Sid Tripp, Co-Founder of The DownEast Pride Alliance, is asked by the Portland Phoenix the possible outcomes of the recent November vote to overturn Maine's gay marriage initiative. November 13-19, 2009 edition:

Maine Sunday Telegram/Portland Press Herald — DEPA is featured in the Business Section of the Sunday, August 30, 2009 edition:

"We are at a critical time in the LGBT community with both the struggles with our economy & the fight for marriage equality. Here are some of the reasons why we started DEPA.

At least 80% of all wealth in the United States is acquired through owning a business. A large majority of small business owners that attend are working 10-12 hours a day and cannot even afford health insurance. It seems like every day another LGBT business is closing their doors or someone is being laid off. According to our latest Facebook report, approximately 60% of our attendees are under the age of 45 with 55% being female. There are no laws in place to protect businesses from discrimination because of being gay. It's perfectly acceptable for a large company never to use a gay vendor.

DEPA was started to encourage each other to do business within our own community. Many in the LGBT community do not have the same access to the traditional social outlets for business like the golf club, the regular chamber of commerce or the fishing buddies ... good ole boys network. Or they may be newer to this area and do not even have the long-standing relationships in the gay community. With the current economic conditions many may be closing their doors. This is a critical time to support not only marriage but also the LGBT business community. Many of these businesses have been generously donating to LGBT organizations for years."

DEPA Co-Sponsor