The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Maine over the state’s policy allowing transgender student athletes to compete in girls’ sports. This lawsuit was announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who claims that Maine’s actions violate Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools receiving federal funds. The lawsuit argues that Maine is failing to protect women in sports by prioritizing gender identity over biological sex.
This legal battle stems from an executive order signed by former President Trump in February, which aims to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. The order threatens to cut federal funding to states that do not comply. Bondi highlighted examples in the lawsuit where transgender athletes in Maine outperformed their competitors, including a case where a transgender girl won a cross-country race that would have placed 43rd in the boys’ division.
Maine’s Democratic Governor, Janet Mills, has vowed to defend the state’s policy vigorously. She argues that this lawsuit is part of a larger effort by the federal government to impose its will on states. Mills insists that the issue is about states’ rights and the rule of law, rather than just sports or women’s protection.
The Maine Principals’ Association, which oversees high school athletics in the state, has stated that only two transgender athletes are currently competing in girls’ sports. However, the Justice Department’s lawsuit refers to at least three transgender athletes.
In response to the executive order, the MPA has indicated that it will continue to follow state law, which protects the rights of transgender individuals. This has led to tensions between state and federal authorities, with the Department of Education moving to cut federal funding for K-12 education in Maine as part of the fallout from the ongoing dispute.
As this legal battle unfolds, it highlights the broader national conversation about transgender rights in sports and the implications of federal versus state authority.