Maine representatives posted on their Facebook page about women's sports trans athletes. He was subsequently banned from speaking or voting on the State House floor.
Now she's suing the Speaker of the House of Representatives for violating First Amendment rights.
“It was a politically bad move for Democrats to denounce me by speaking up for the rights to fair, safe and equal arenas with the main girl,” Laurel Libby told the Post.
It began on February 17th, when Libby, the Republican leader in Maine's 64th District, posted a photo of a transgender pole vaulter at Maine High School, standing at the first step of the state's Championship Podium.
“I learned exactly a year ago that John was competing in the Boys Pole Vault. I wrote it on her Facebook page. “Tonight, 'Katy' took first place in the Women's Maine Class B Championship. ”
The athlete's first place victory won the school team in a championship victory with one point.
“I'm commenting on various current issues here in Maine, so I wasn't expecting any major issues with that,” Libby said of the post.
“It was a public photo of a public event that individuals freely chose to participate and take the podium.”
Maine's Democratic chairman and majority leader quickly gained the post wind, She demanded to defeat it. When she refused, they introduced a move to blame her, citing the fact that the individual photographed was a minor.
A resolution prohibiting her from speaking on the floor of her house or voting for the law until she apologises; Passed along the partisanship Line of 75-70 votes.
“When a simple majority can silence a minority member, speech is not free, so we're really in danger,” Libby said.
Her lawsuit alleges that the Democrat majority violated Libby's constitutional rights because Facebook posts are protected by the First Amendment. Greg Lukianov, a free speech lawyer and president of the Foundation for Personal Rights and Expression, agrees.
“To elect and disown her right to vote to refuse to delete a legitimate Facebook post is a blatant violation of the free speech and the First Amendment,” Rukianov told the post.
“The Constitution doesn't empower lawmakers to discuss one of the hottest topics of the day in a way they dislike.”
The blunder helped spark a controversial exchange between Maine Gov. Janet Mills and President Donald Trump last week over transgender athletes in the White House.
The administration cut funding for public universities in Maine. The state continues to ignore President Trump's executive orders to condemn the state of not complying with Title IX and keep trans athletes out of women's sports.
Meanwhile, Libby says her accusations will harm voters who choose to represent her.
“It's silencing my constituents, your vote doesn't matter, your voice doesn't matter, I don't think you deserve to represent the state capitol,” she said.
She also believes that “100%” causes self-censorship for her colleagues to fear the same retaliation.
“If it's so easy to silence people who oppose the policy, it will absolutely close policy debate because there's a risk that you could lose your voice and vote just by expressing another opinion,” the lawmaker said.
In the shock of the future, all federal judges in Maine on Wednesday He rejected himself from the incidentwill be sent to the Rhode Island area. Libby declined to comment on the development.
The defendant has 21 days to respond to Libby's lawsuit.
As she waits for their reaction, she worries about what Maine girls will do about the Democratic move to shut her up.
“It's a terrible message to send to our young women,” she said. “Our female athletes have already had to compete with biological men, and now, this censorship behavior tells us not to even talk about it.
