Debate over transgender rights, girls sports draws large turnout to Maine State House
May 8—AUGUSTA — The debate over transgender athletes competing in girls sports drew hundreds to the Maine State House Thursday for what is expected to be a daylong series of public hearings on proposals to restrict participation and roll back gender identity protections in the state's anti-discrimination law.
The first group of bills taken up by the Judiciary Committee included proposals to cut state funding to schools that allow transgender athletes to participate in girls sports or require school sports teams to be designated as male, female or coed and prohibit transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports.
The committee was also expected to take up a bill later in the day Thursday that would eliminate protections based on gender identity from the Maine Human Rights Act, the law that state officials have cited as requiring them to allow students to participate in sports in a way that affirms their identity.
The hearings come after the Trump administration sued Maine last month for allowing transgender athletes to participate in girls sports, saying it violates a federal law protecting women from discrimination in education. The administration also has moved to cut off federal funding to the state until it bans trans athletes, although the state has so far fended off any cuts in court.
State officials have said the Trump administration is overstepping its authority without any legal precedent to back up their interpretation of federal law.
The bills being heard Thursday were submitted prior to the Trump administration's lawsuit, although the national attention has intensified debate at the State House. All of the proposals are from Republican lawmakers.
Rep. Elizabeth Caruso, R-Caratunk, said Thursday that her bill, LD 868, requiring school sports teams to be designated as male, female or coed and prohibit transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports, would bring Maine schools into compliance with the Trump administration's executive order and interpretation of Title IX and prevent a loss of federal funding.
Hundreds of people submitted written testimony on the bills ahead of the hearings and supporters of transgender students said they were expecting a strong turnout.
"Every student should be treated with kindness and respect, and they should be able to attend school and play sports without fear," said Gia Drew, executive director of EqualityMaine, an LGBTQ political advocacy organization, in a written statement Wednesday. "These bills won't just hurt transgender girls, they will hurt everyone and subject all Maine girls to invasive procedures that violate personal privacy."
Supporters of the bills restricting transgender students' participation have also encouraged people to come to the hearings.
Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, whose viral Facebook post featuring a transgender student athlete initially attracted the Trump administration's attention to the issue in February, posted Monday with a message encouraging people to attend the hearings.
Libby shared a video from a Presque Isle student, Cassidy Carlisle, who has been active in speaking out against transgender athletes in girls' sports.
"I know what it feels like to wonder if your voice matters," Carlisle said in the video. "I'm here to tell you it does. This hearing is a chance to show up for one another and let decision makers know we care deeply about the future of girls in sports."
The bills that will be heard Thursday include LD 1134 and LD 233, both of which would prohibit schools that receive state funding from allowing transgender athletes to participate in girls' sports, and LD 868, which would require school sports teams to be designated as male, female or coed.
It also would prohibit transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports and would require schools designate restrooms and changing rooms for use by males or females only.
Another bill, LD 1432, would remove consideration of gender identity from the Maine Human Rights Act.
This story will be updated.
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