Legislative Democrats Oppose Protections for Female Student Athletes
Augusta – This week, the Democrat-controlled Maine Legislature rejected several Republican-sponsored bills aimed at ensuring safety, privacy and fairness for female student athletes.
Public sentiment is clear: A March 2025 poll showed that 64% of Mainers oppose policies allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports. Despite this widespread opposition, Democrats in Augusta continue to dismiss commonsense efforts to protect the integrity of girls’ athletics.
These proposals sought to reaffirm Title IX protections and address ongoing concerns in Maine schools where young women have lost competitive opportunities to biological males. During public hearings before the Judiciary Committee, numerous female athletes bravely shared how these policies have negatively impacted their ability to compete on a level playing field.
“While legislative Democrats and radical activists claim that biological men in women’s sports are not a cause for concern, we’ve seen time and time again boys beating girls in competitions in Maine,” said Senator Sue Bernard, R-Aroostook. “I am truly disappointed that not one Senate Democrat broke with their caucus to support legislation the vast majority of Mainers want to see passed.”
“I’m outraged by the Democrats’ outright refusal to confront this issue — one that is dividing our state and putting critical federal Title IX funding at risk,” said Assistant House Republican Leader Katrina Smith, R-Palermo. “We gave them multiple opportunities to protect girls in both private spaces and on the playing field. They refused. But let me be clear: Republicans will not stop fighting for Maine’s girls.”
“Once again, the Democrat Party has put its narrow political agenda ahead of justice for Maine people and the well-being of our girls,” said Rep. Elizabeth Caruso, R-Caratunk. “By rejecting LD 868, An Act to Ensure Equity and Safety in Athletics, they turned down a commonsense solution that would have ensured all Maine students could compete fairly and safely, while giving schools the clear guidance they’ve asked for. They also ignored the NCAA’s call for consistency: LD 868’s language has already been adopted by 26 other states.”
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