The Maine House of Representatives, which is currently controlled by Democrats, recently passed a bill that seeks to codify the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA) in the state’s constitution. This legislation is significant in allowing transgender athletes to participate in girls’ sports, a contentious issue that has put the state at odds with the Trump administration. The MHRA was revised four years ago to include gender identity as a protected class and explicitly stated that denying equal opportunities in sports is a form of discrimination. Last year, the Maine Principals’ Association updated its policy to allow athletes to compete based on the gender they identify as. While the bill passed with a slim majority in the House, it will require a two-thirds majority in both chambers before it can be presented to voters.
On the other side of the aisle, the Republican minority in the House is supporting a proposal to remove the term “gender identity” from the MHRA. This vote took place following a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against Maine for its refusal to comply with Trump’s executive order regarding transgender athletes in girls’ sports. Despite facing federal pressure, Democrat leadership in Maine, led by Governor Janet Mills, remains committed to allowing biologically male transgender athletes to participate in girls’ sports and use girls’ facilities. The MHRA has been a central piece of legislation used by Democrats to justify their defiance of federal directives. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey cited both Title IX and the MHRA in defending the state’s policies in a CNN interview.
While the Maine Principals’ Association and the Maine School Administrative District 51 have refused to comply with Trump’s executive order, citing the MHRA as the reason, the majority of Maine residents do not agree with allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. A survey found that 63% of registered Maine voters believe school sports participation should be based on biological sex, and 66% agreed that women’s sports should be restricted to biological females. Additionally, 60% of residents would support a ballot measure limiting participation in women’s and girls’ sports to biological females. Despite the state’s stance, one school district, MSAD #70, has taken matters into its own hands by voting to comply with Title IX and only recognize biological male and female sexes, thereby preventing transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports.
The MSAD #70 School Board’s decision to comply with Title IX and only recognize biological male and female sexes demonstrates a shift in policy at the local level in Maine. The superintendent of the district, Tyler Putnam, highlighted the board’s commitment to providing students with an education that will positively impact their future. He expressed hope for collaboration between the federal government and the state to support local school districts like theirs. This move by MSAD #70 may signal a broader trend toward local defiance of state policies on transgender athletes in girls’ sports. As the debate continues in Maine and across the country, the issue of gender identity and sports participation remains a divisive and complex one.
