Latest news with #MaineSchoolAdministrativeDistrict51
Fox News
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Maine Democrats trying to amend state constitution to codify allowing trans athletes in girls' sports
The Democrat majority in the Maine House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that would codify the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA) in the state's constitution on Thursday. The MHRA has been the state's tent pole legislation in allowing trans athletes in girls' sports during an ongoing feud with President Donald Trump's administration over the issue. The law was amended four years ago to add gender identity as a protected class and specifically stated that denying a person an equal opportunity to participate in sports is discrimination against education. Last year, the Maine Principals' Association updated its policy to allow athletes to compete against the gender they identify as. The proposed bill to constitutionalize the MHRA passed with a slim simple majority in the House on Thursday but will need a two-thirds majority in both chambers before it can go before voters. Meanwhile, the Republican minority in the House is backing a proposal to remove the term "gender identity" from the MHRA. The vote came one day after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state for its ongoing defiance of Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. Maine has faced immense federal pressure in the last two months over its refusal to comply, including two federal investigations, a funding freeze by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and now an official lawsuit. But the Democrat leadership in the state, led by Governor Janet Mills, has remained steadfast in its commitment to defy Trump and ensure biologically male trans athletes can still participate in girls' sports and enter girls' locker rooms. The MHRA has been the central law those Democrats have leaned on to justify their defiant stance. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey justified his state's noncompliance with Trump by citing the MHRA in an interview on CNN Wednesday. "Our position is that Title IX, consistent with the Maine Human Rights Act, so both federal and state law, supports that trans girls will be able to participate in high school sports consistent with their gender identity," Frey said. "So my contention is Maine is following Title IX, Maine is following the Maine Human Rights Act." Fox News Digital previously obtained statements from the Maine Principals' Association and the Maine School Administrative District 51, citing the MHRA for its refusal to comply with Trump's executive order. "The Maine Principals' Association is bound by the law, including the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA), which our participation policy reflects," officials said. "We are unable to sign any resolution agreement that would mandate we create a new policy that would violate the law and MHRA." The Maine School Administrative District 51, home to Greely High School, where a transgender athlete incited national controversy after winning a girls' pole vault competition in February, also pointed to the Maine Human Rights Act for allowing the athlete to compete. "The MSAD #51 Board of Directors is guided by the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of our district. This includes promoting a safe, caring and ethical learning environment where each person will be treated with respect and fairness; and individuals are recognized, valued and supported," the district said in a statement. However, the majority of Maine residents disagree with allowing trans athletes to compete in girls' sports. A survey by the American Parents Coalition found that out of about 600 registered Maine voters, 63% said school sports participation should be based on biological sex, and 66% agreed that it is "only fair to restrict women's sports to biological women." The poll also found that 60% of residents would support a ballot measure limiting participation in women's and girls' sports to biological females. This included 64% of independents and 66% of parents with kids under age 18. And while Maine's Democrat leadership refuses to comply with Trump's executive order, one school district is taking matters into its own hands and defying the state anyway. The MSAD #70 School Board voted unanimously on Monday night to comply with Title IX, "recognizing only two sexes - biological male and biological female and that all private spaces be separated by biological sex." MSAD #70 superintendent Tyler Putnam told Fox News Digital that, due to this vote, he is now directed to amend the district's policies to prevent trans athletes from competing in girls' sports. "Our board, similar to many people in Maine, have been following the back-and-forth communication between the federal government and the state. We are hoping for both sides to work together to help support local school districts like ourselves," Putnam said. "The board and our staff's No. 1 priority is to provide our students with an education that will positively impact their future in our great state and country." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Fox News
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Maine school officials explain why state was in 'noncompliance with Title IX' after referral to DOJ
Maine school officials explained on Monday why they were in "noncompliance with Title IX" as the Trump administration referred the state to the Justice Department after it failed to bar transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports. The state defied President Donald Trump's executive order banning biological males from competing in women's and girls' sports. The Health and Human Services Department gave the state 10 days to correct its policies through a signed agreement or risk referral to the DOJ. The deadline came and went and the Health and Human Services Department's Office of Civil Rights followed through on its promise Friday, vowing to protect female athletes. "Today, OCR referred Maine's noncompliance with Title IX to @TheJusticeDept for enforcement in court for continuing to unlawfully allow males to compete against females," the department announced in a post on X. "HHS will continue to protect women's sports and keep the promises of Title IX for America's women and girls." The Maine School Administrative District 51, home to Greely High School, where a transgender athlete incited national controversy after winning a girls' pole vault competition in February, said Thursday it was not complying and will instead "continue to follow state law and the Maine Human Rights Act." Fox News obtained statements that the Maine Principals' Association and the Maine School Administrative District 51 both released to the community. "The Maine Principals' Association is bound by the law, including the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA), which our participation policy reflects," officials said. "We are unable to sign any resolution agreement that would mandate we create a new policy that would violate the law and MHRA. "As such, we have not signed and will not sign the resolution agreement sent by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. With respect to the Federal Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, resolution agreement, we were not a direct recipient of that agreement, so we are not required to respond." Maine School Administrative District 51 also pointed to the Maine Human Rights Act. "The MSAD #51 Board of Directors is guided by the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of our district. This includes promoting a safe, caring and ethical learning environment where each person will be treated with respect and fairness; and individuals are recognized, valued and supported," the letter read. "To our students: Thank you for your maturity, perseverance, and dedication to learning through these distractions. Please continue to lead the way. "To our teachers and staff: We deeply appreciate your unwavering commitment to our students. Your dedication makes a profound impact, and we are grateful for your resilience and compassion. Please note that no Board policies have changed at this time. We encourage you to continue supporting every student, socially and academically, as you always have." The Maine Human Rights Act was amended four years ago to add gender identity as a protected class and specifically stated that denying a person an equal opportunity to participate in sports is discrimination against education. The Maine Principals' Association updated its policy to allow athletes to compete against the gender they identify as last year. Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and Maine's Education Department have not responded to requests for comment. Amid the feud between the Trump administration and the state of Maine, a University of New Hampshire poll released last week showed that most Maine residents agree that transgender athletes should not compete in girls' and women's sports. The poll showed that 64% of Maine residents believe transgender athletes "definitely should not" or "probably should not" participate in girls' and women's sports. Only 29% of Maine residents believed that transgender athletes "probably should" or "definitely should" compete against girls and women in sports. The poll also showed that 56% of Maine Democrats believe that transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in girls' and women's sports. When it came to enacting policies to combat the issue of transgender participation in sports, the poll showed that 50% of Maine residents wanted it at the federal level, while 41% believe policy should be left up to the states. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Fox News
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Maine school officials refuse to comply with Trump's ultimatum to ban transgender athletes from girls sports
Officials at a school district in Maine announced Thursday that the district will not comply with a proposed agreement with President Donald Trump's administration that would bar transgender athletes from participating in girls sports. Maine School Administrative District 51, home to Greely High School, where a transgender athlete incited national controversy after winning a girls pole vault competition in February, said it is not complying and will instead "continue to follow state law and the Maine Human Rights Act." "To our students: Thank you for your maturity, perseverance and dedication to learning through these distractions. Please continue to lead the way," the district said in a statement. The Maine Principals' Association said in a statement it is also "bound by the law, including the Maine Human Rights Act, which our participation policy reflects." The institutions have opted to defy Trump's order despite recent data suggesting the majority of Maine residents oppose transgender athletes in girls sports. A survey by the American Parents Coalition found that out of about 600 registered Maine voters, 63% said school sports participation should be based on biological sex, and 66% agreed it's "only fair to restrict women's sports to biological women." The poll also found that 60% of residents would support a ballot measure limiting participation in women's and girls sports to biological females. This included 64% of independents and 66% of parents with kids under age 18. The situation involving a trans athlete at Greely High School attracted national attention after Maine Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby identified the athlete by name with a photograph in a social media post in February. Police protection was later assigned to the school over safety concerns. The Maine legislature then censured Libby for the post, and she has since filed a lawsuit seeking to have the censure overturned. A feud between Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills began Feb. 20 during a GOP meeting of governors, when Trump threatened to cut federal funding to the state for not banning trans athletes from girls and women's sports. The next day, Mills' office responded with a statement threatening legal action against the Trump administration if it did withhold federal funding from the state. Then, Trump and Mills verbally sparred in a widely publicized argument at the White House during a bipartisan meeting of governors. "Are you not going to comply with that?" Trump asked Mills. Since then, multiple protests against Mills have been held outside the state Capitol, and the Maine University System has cooperated with the Trump administration to ensure no trans athletes compete in women's sports after a temporary funding pause. Last week, the U.S. Health and Human Services' Office of Civil Rights (OCR) announced it found the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals' Association and Greely High School in violation of Title IX for continuing to enable trans inclusion in girls sports. The announcement warned that the state had 10 days to correct its policies through a signed agreement or risk referral to the U.S. Department of Justice for appropriate action. That deadline passed Thursday. OCR acting Director Anthony Archeval previously provided a statement to Fox News Digital warning of potential consequences for continued defiance of the executive order. "What HHS is asking of the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals' Association (MPA) and Greely High School is simple — protect female athletes' rights. Girls deserve girls-only sports without male competitors. And if Maine won't come to the table to voluntarily comply with Title IX, HHS will enforce Title IX to the fullest extent permitted by the law," Archeval said. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cumberland-North Yarmouth parents, students hold rally supporting trans students
Mar. 23—Members of the Cumberland-North Yarmouth school community rallied on Sunday to support transgender students as protests surrounding the Trump administration's policies continue to crop up around the state. Parents and students from Maine School Administrative District 51 organized the "We Won't Back Down" rally in the Cumberland Commons across from Greely schools after the district became embroiled in the national conversation around transgender athletes in girls sports. "Children should have access to a safe, welcoming school environment where they are encouraged to attain their own personal happiness and explore their own identity," Greely High School senior Vigolia Walsh told the large crowd gathered by the gazebo on Sunday. "Ensuring that our schools can provide safety, privacy and support to all students, regardless of their identity, is crucial to the stability of our state and country," Walsh said. The U.S. Department of Education informed Maine officials Wednesday that the state is in violation of federal Title IX law for its policy on transgender athletes. The notice came just two days after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services amended its notice of violation of Title IX aimed at the Maine Department of Education to include both the Maine Principals' Association, the independent organization that governs high school athletics, and Greely High School in Cumberland. The department cited a transgender Greely student's win at an indoor track championship this winter, as well as a report of a different transgender student from the Maine Coast Waldorf School competing in a girls nordic skiing race last month. In both investigations, the Trump administration proposed corrective action and gave the state 10 days to comply or face the prospect of losing federal funding. The federal investigations into Maine schools came shortly after state Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, shared the name and photo of an athlete she identified as transgender on social media, in an effort she said was aimed at defending women's sports. Protestors at Sunday's rally said that they don't want to see children being used to make political points. "This administration is targeting the members of our community who are most vulnerable to being harmed, and that is completely unacceptable," organizer and MSAD51 parent Leah McDonald said in an interview. "So we are also here to stand up against the bullying — it is not OK to target minors." One eighth grade Greely Middle School student who attended the rally said it was "scary" to see her community in the national spotlight, adding that it made her fear for her classmates' safety. She said she was happy to see so many people at the rally on Sunday. "Its really inspiring to be with a huge community, of everybody supporting us," the student, Lora, said. Another eighth grader, Sage, agreed. "Just seeing everyone who supports each other, I think it's going to bring us closer; it already has," she said. The Trump administration has been targeting Maine since a meeting of governors last month, where the president and Gov. Janet Mills clashed over his executive order banning athletes not assigned female at birth from competition in girls and women's sports. Mills has maintained that the order conflicts with the Maine Human Rights Act. Mills' comment that she would see Trump "in court" has galvanized some Mainers behind the governor, while others have called for her removal and protested her administration at the State House. Protestors at the rally in Cumberland on Sunday could be seen wearing "see you in court" T-shirts. Organizers said they hope Mills remains steadfast in her support of the Maine Human Rights Act — which permits equal participation in extracurriculars, regardless of gender identity. North Yarmouth select board member Andrea Berry and state Rep. Anne Graham, D-North Yarmouth, also made speeches at the rally supporting transgender students. "To our LGBTQIA+ community and neighbors, you are a vital part of the fabric of our town, and we stand with you," Berry said. Protestors stressed that the rally was about more than the transgender athlete debate. Rather, McDonald said she hoped to highlight what she sees an egregious federal overreach into state law. "We are a group of concerned citizens from the Cumberland district, and actually around Maine, wanting to demand our leaders to continue upholding state law, the Maine Human Rights Act, and stand strong against what we perceive as fear-mongering and bullying," McDonald said. The rally in Cumberland on Sunday was just one of many demonstrations planned in the greater Portland area in recent weeks against federal influence in Maine's schools and industries. Also on Sunday, the Letter Carriers' union protested on Forest Avenue in Portland against cuts, layoffs and the potential privatization of the U.S. Postal Service. Trump's cuts to the U.S. Department of Education have also drawn attention in Maine, with local teachers showing their support for public education at rallies last week. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. 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