The federal ruling declares Maine’s policy regarding transgender athletes.
PORTLAND, Maine — Maine leaders are responding to a federal ruling that found the state violated Title IX Act by allowing trans athletes to compete with girls and women’s sports teams.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Civil Rights Office has issued a notice that their agency has found that Maine Department of Education’s policies deny equal opportunities for student-athletes.
Some view this decision as a step towards fairness, while others fear it could lead to discrimination and exclusion.
Related: Federal Government says Maine violates Title IX over Transgender Athlete Policy
Gia Drew, executive director of Equality Maine, said the ruling felt like unnecessary interference in years of inclusion practice.
“Trans kids, athletes, have been playing sports in Maine for decades, and that was absolutely fine,” Drew said.
She is concerned about how this decision can shape perceptions of gender and motor skills. However, others see this ruling as a step towards protecting girls’ sport equity.
Maine lawmakers like Republican Rep. Katrina Smith have already spoken about the social media ruling, saying current policies are already causing harm.
“The Mills administration’s policy of allowing biological boys in girls’ sports has abused our young women both physically and mentally,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
Billy Bob Fawkingham, the leader of the winter port minority, pointed out the growing number of girls speaking up at the Capitol, and said their concerns need to be taken seriously.
“In the past few weeks, we’ve seen hundreds of girls from every corner of the state say about injustice,” he said.
Related: Senate rejects bill aiming to ban trans athletes from women and girls sports
The ruling could have great consequences for Maine schools, particularly with regard to federal funding.
Once the state decides how to respond, many mainants remain deeply divided. Some feel that protecting sports equity is essential, while others worry that young trans athletes will face an increase in scrutiny and discrimination.
Drew wants the conversation to remain compassionate, whatever the outcome.
“Young people hear that the respected adults who are the president of the United States hear horrible things about trans people,” Drew added. “That can be really difficult to understand as a young person.”
News Center Maine has reached out to the Maine Department of Education, the Governor’s Office and the Maine Attorney General’s Office for comment.
