Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and EqualityMaine are committed to protecting the personal information that you provide to us when using MaineTheWayLifeShouldBe.org. This Online Privacy Statement describes how we treat all user data collected during your visit to this site, both anonymous data and personally-identifying data.
User Data We Collect
We collect two types of user data: (1) anonymous data that is automatically collected from all visitors to the MaineTheWayLifeShouldBe.org Site; and (2) personally-identifiable data that you voluntarily submit to us (described below under “Personal Data”).
Anonymous Data. We automatically collect Internet Protocol addresses and domain names (not individual email addresses) through our server, in order to track where visitors to our site are coming from. We also track the number and frequency of hits per page on an aggregate basis.
Personal Data. We may collect Personal Data that you voluntarily provide, such as your name and postal address, phone number, e-mail address, and similar information, when you participate in certain activities on the MaineTheWayLifeShouldBe.org Site, including (but not limited to) when you:
· Submit your story;
· sign up for the GLAD e-mail list;
· sign up for the EqualityMaine e-mail list; or
· participate in any activity that requires your Personal Data.
If you forward information to others using a “forward to a friend” link on our website or in an email, we do not collect the email addresses you forward to.
Cookies
We may collect some data through the use of session cookies. Session cookies are alphanumeric identifiers that are transferred temporarily to your computer’s Random Access Memory.
Session cookies last only as long as your session on the MaineTheWayLifeShouldBe.org Site. They expire when the session ends and are not written onto your computer’s hard drive.
How We Use The Data We Collect
We use anonymous data to identify the source of user traffic (for example, mit.edu, or aol.com), but we are not able to use this data to identify individual users. We do not link any anonymous data with the Personal Data you provide to us.
We use your Personal Data for various purposes:
· To fulfill the request for which you specifically provided the data;
· To send you GLAD and/or EqualityMaine e-mail newsletters or action alerts, if you have opted in to receiving that information;
· To offer you other ways to support GLAD and EqualityMaine, including, in some limited cases, solicitations for contributions;
· To send you information regarding volunteer opportunities at EqualityMaine.
Additionally, if you use MaineTheWayLifeShouldBe.org to submit your story about marriage equality, your story will only be used with your explicit permission. If you are willing to have your story displayed on this website, you can provide permission to do so when you submit your story. Occasionally, we may want to use your story for another public education purpose, like in an educational postcard to be mailed to Mainers, in a magazine article, or a newspaper advertisement. We will always contact you to ask for your permission to use your story for any specific purpose.
The MaineTheWayLifeShouldBe.org Site is hosted by servers in the United States. Accordingly, if you are located outside of the United States, the Personal Data you provide to us will be transferred to the United States. By submitting your Personal Data, you consent to its transfer and storage in the United States and its use in accordance with the purposes for which it was originally collected (see below regarding third-party sharing of Personal Data from non-U.S. residents).
Third-Party Sharing
We may disclose and use Personal Data regardless of where you reside in special circumstances when it is necessary to enforce our User Agreement or this Online Privacy Statement, or when we, in good faith, believe that the law requires us to disclose your Personal Data to third parties.
Except as described in this Online Privacy Statement, we will not share your Personal Data with any third party unless we first notify you and offer you an appropriate choice to consent to such further use, for example, through an opt-out or opt-in request.
Your Ability to Choose
When you provide us with your Personal Data on the MaineTheWayLifeShouldBe.org Site, you will not be included on any mailing lists unless you explicitly provide us permission to do so. You have the opportunity to opt-in to GLAD’s email list or EqualityMaine’s email list when your provide your email address.
Children
We do not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13.
Security
The Personal Data we collect about you is stored on a secure, password protected server. We use industry-standard encryption technologies with respect to the receipt and transfer of Personal Data you submit to us on the MaineTheWayLifeShouldBe.org Site and only authorized personnel have access to your information. Nevertheless, despite our best efforts, no transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.
Updating Your Data
To update your Personal Data or to make corrections, you can do so by emailing rbrown@glad.org.
Comments and Questions
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about this Online Privacy Statement or our data collection practices or to request that we delete your Personal Data, you can email rbrown@glad.org or send us your questions or comments via postal mail sent to GLAD, 550 Forest Avenue, suite 203, Portland, ME 04101.
