Biological male wins Maine state championship for Girls pole vault
A Maine legislature voted to silence a Republican state lawmaker after she exposed a transgender high school athlete who won first place in a girls' competition.
Laurel Libby, 43, of Auburn, posted on Facebook last week about a trans student winning a state championship pole vaulting competition.
It came just two years after she made fifth place in the boys' event, according to the state representative.
Libby shared unblurred images of the student, named them and circled them - sparking outrage among some across the state.
'Another day, another instance of an unremarkable biological male athlete (who couldn't win against other males) dominating girls' sports,' she wrote.
The first image showed the athlete when they identified as a male and the second showed them now, identifying as a female.
According to the Republican, the student previously went by the name John, but now goes by the name Katie.
Libby was called to a censure meeting Tuesday, where Maine House's Democratic majority passed a resolution finding her in 'clear violation' of the code of ethics.
'Sharing images of kids online without their consent is a clear violation of the bond of trust and respect between citizens and their Legislators.
'There is a time and place for policy debates. That time and place will never be a social media post attacking a Maine student. Maine kids, and all Maine people, deserve better,' Fecteau said.
Because of the decision, Libby will no longer be allowed to speak on the house floor or vote until she issues an apology - something she has refused to do.
'I will not be silenced and I will not allow the voices of Maine girls to be silenced,' Libby said on X following the vote.
During the censure hearing, Libby took time to try and defend her controversial post, but Fecteau kept having to redirect her back to the issue at hand as several house representatives interjected.
'The chair will remind the member again, the resolution that's before us is related to whether or not the posting of the photo of a minor is appropriate conduct for a member of his body,' Fecteau said, adding that Libby was starting to 'skate on thin ice.'
'Since I don't know how many more sentences I'll be allowed to speak… Boys participating in girls sports is not fair,' Libby said.
She went on to add that the competition in question was a 'public event' and that the athlete 'determined of his own free will to participate.'
Libby also defended where she got the images from, stating that they were 'posted publicly on multiple websites.'
'The reason that folks are upset about this post is that it exposed the truth, and now people are mad that, indeed, after being told that this is not happening and it doesn't matter, that there are boys participating in girls' sports. Boys taking the place of girls,' she continued.
Fecteau, again, attempted to get Libby back on track to defend herself about posting a child on social media.
By the end of the meeting, the speaker determined that Libby will be censured until she issues an apology.
Libby then took to Facebook and shared her response to the decision, stating the 'majority' or the Democrats, 'have silenced me for speaking out for Maine girls.'
In the post, captioned 'Maine Girls are Being Cancelled,' Libby noted that she 'was not even given the respect' to defend herself while in the house chamber.
She then proceeded to reach the speech she had prepared, stating: 'Last Monday, at the Maine state track championship, a young man took first place in the girls' pole vault.
'Last year, he took fifth place in a regional meet, competing as a young man. And then 10th place at the state championship, again, competing as a young man. He last competed as a young man in June of last year.
'And yet, this year, he won the girls' state championship in Maine,' she said, adding that the athlete 'got fame' while the 'rightful winner of the girls' pole vault lost out on her moment of fame.'
'And you know what? I can just only picture that every feminist who worked so hard to get women to where we are today is rolling over in their grave to see this.'
The transgender debate in the US has been at the forefront, especially since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
He signed an executive order on February 5 titled 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports' barring transgender athletes from women's sports.
The order uses Title IX, a law against sex discrimination in taxpayer-funded education programs, to ban transgender girls and women from participating in female school sports activities.
It authorizes the Education Department to penalize schools that allow transgender athletes to compete, citing noncompliance with Title IX, which prohibits sexual discrimination in schools. Any school found in violation could potentially be ineligible for federal funding.
The Trump Administration has issued sweeping executive orders to limit transgender rights throughout the country - an issue he campaigned heavily on.
On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order asserting the federal government recognizes only two sexes — male and female.
He also issued an executive order barring transgender people from serving in the military, saying they do not meet the high standards demanded of servicemembers.
This is also not the first time the state of Maine has voiced its opinion on the social issue, as Trump engaged in a furious row with the Governor of Maine over transgender athletes during a fractious meeting at the White house on Friday.
Democrat Janet Mills came face to face with the president at a session of the National Governors Association in the State Dining Room.
While delivering a speech Trump mentioned his recent executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in girls and women's sports, and that he understood Maine was not complying.
He said 'Is the Governor of Maine here?' and when Mills stood up from behind a table, Trump asked: 'Are you not going to comply with that?'
Mills responded: 'I'm complying with state and federal laws.'
Trump said: 'Well, we are the federal law. You better do it because you're not going to get any federal funding at all if you don't.
'And, by the way, your population, even though it's somewhat liberal I did very well there. Your population, it doesn't want men playing in women's sports. So you better comply, otherwise you're not getting any federal funding.'
Mills countered: 'We're going to follow the law sir. We'll see you in court.'
Trump hit back: 'Good, I'll see you in court, I look forward to it. That should be a real easy one.'
He then indicated that it would be the end of her career.
'And enjoy your life after governor because I don't think you'll be in elected politics,' the president said.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14438737/maine-state-legislature-gop-lawmaker-trans-athlete-laurel-libby.html