On Thursday, the Maine Senate voted against LD 1134, a bill that would have barred biologically male trans athletes from participating in girls’ sports. The measure, introduced in response to President Donald Trump’s ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ executive order, faced strong opposition from the state’s Democratic leadership. The rejection comes amid a broader legal and political battle, as the U.S. Department of Justice has sued Maine for allegedly violating federal anti-discrimination laws by allowing trans athletes to compete in girls’ sports.
The state’s Democratic majority has drawn criticism from activists and athletes, who claim that the legislative process was biased. Prominent Republican lawmaker Laurel Libby condemned the decision in a post on X, arguing that the legislature failed to uphold the interests of female athletes and Maine residents. Meanwhile, several girls’ athletes testified before the state legislature in early May, advocating for laws to restrict trans participation in girls’ sports. However, they reported that their testimonies were met with hostility or minimal attention from Democrats.
Maine’s Governor Janet Mills and state officials have maintained support for trans inclusion in girls’ sports, citing the Maine Human Rights Act as a legal foundation. Two school districts in the state have taken the matter into their own hands, amending policies to exclude trans athletes from girls’ sports. Despite public opinion leaning toward restricting women’s sports to biological women, the state continues to face legal challenges and political opposition on the issue.