Maine Senate Rejects Bill to Exclude Transgender Athletes from Women’s Sports

The Maine Senate voted against Bill LD 1134 on Thursday, which aimed to prohibit biologically male transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.

This decision reflects ongoing resistance among state Democratic leaders against former President Donald Trump’s executive order advocating for the exclusion of men from women’s sports, an issue that has been in the spotlight since February.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a lawsuit against the state following its refusal to sign an agreement intended to preserve women’s sports specifically for women. A federal judge has set a trial date for April 1, 2026, regarding the case.

Representative Laurel Libby, a notable figure among Maine Republicans, criticized the Democratic majority for not passing the bill. In a recent social media post, she expressed her frustration, stating that the decisions in the Maine Legislature ignore “the biological reality and the will of the Maine people.” Libby argued that biological men are still allowed to dominate girls’ sports, which she finds concerning.

For quite some time, advocates for women’s rights and athletes alike have been pushing for legislation to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s events. In early May, a group of female athletes marched to the state capitol to testify in support of several bills, including LD 114, along with similar proposals LD 868 and LD 233.

Lucy Cheney, a student track athlete from Presque Isle, previously shared with media that during discussions, those who supported trans inclusion appeared more engaged than those who disagreed with them. She felt their input was valued less. Another athlete, Carlyn Buck, described the Democrats’ demeanor as “hostile” during questioning, stating it was challenging to present their perspective.

The DOJ highlighted that enforcing policies requiring boys to compete in girls’ sports represents a violation of federal anti-discrimination laws, according to a complaint cited by a news outlet.

Governor Janet Mills, alongside the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Principal Association, advocates for the state’s human rights laws to continue allowing transgender participation in women’s sports, framing it as a crucial aspect of gender eligibility.

In the meantime, two school districts in Maine, MSAD No. 70 and RSU No. 24, have taken the matter into their own hands, adapting their policies to exclude trans athletes from women’s sports.

A survey conducted by the American Parents Union revealed that among approximately 600 registered Maine voters, 63% believed that sports participation should be determined by biological sex, while 66% supported limiting women’s sports to biological women. This sentiment was echoed by 60% of residents who endorsed a voting measure to restrict female sports participation to biological women, including 64% of parents with children under 18.

Despite this public opinion, Governor Mills has maintained her stance against Trump’s position, even if it incurs taxpayer-funded legal expenses. “I’m willing to pursue this in court,” she commented at a press briefing in April.