This week, three activists showed up to a school board meeting in Maine dressed only in their underwear to protest a policy that permits transgender individuals, identifying as men, to take part in sports and spaces meant for women.
The demonstration took place in Augusta, organized by Nick Blanchard, a local activist recognized as “Corn Pop” in Central Maine.
Blanchard delivered a speech opposing the policy while two women and a man gradually removed their clothing.
“We’re here to highlight how uncomfortable this situation is for girls,” Blanchard said as the activists undressed.
“Does this make you feel uneasy? Because that’s exactly how young girls feel when a boy enters the locker room and doesn’t change in private. That’s how they feel whenever a young boy is changing in front of them,” he added.
The protest drew mixed responses from school board members present, with some appearing upset, others avoiding eye contact, and a few remaining indifferent.
“This is Maine’s capital. We need to set a standard for the entire state. The message you’re sending is that we don’t care about young girls,” Blanchard remarked.
He mentioned that the stunt gained local attention, attracting support from over 150 people who back his stance on the district’s “gender identity” policies, according to local sources.
“I think actions like this might be effective in shifting policy, but maybe not,” Blanchard noted. “It seems like the only way to grab their attention is to pull something drastic and seek national coverage.”
In a related decision, the Augusta City School Board voted to uphold the current policy that emphasizes an individual’s subjective “gender identity” over biological aspects, in alignment with the Maine Human Rights Act.
Former President Donald Trump had previously signed an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” This order aims to protect female student-athletes from having to compete against males or change in front of them, mandating federal departments to review funding for educational programs that don’t comply with this initiative, which he argued supports women’s safety and dignity.
Following Trump’s order, officials in Maine publicly stated they would not comply and chose to support transgender individuals identifying as men over women and girls. The Trump administration subsequently initiated an investigation into the state for violating Title IX, leading to threats of federal funding cuts while litigation is still ongoing.
Several school districts in Maine, however, have adopted resolutions endorsing adherence to the Trump administration’s directive.
The protests in Maine coincided with similar demonstrations in California, where Beth Vaughn, a local activist, wore a bikini at a school board meeting to criticize a policy allowing transgender individuals to access girls’ locker rooms.
