On Sunday, people gathered in Cumberland for a protest aimed at protecting young transgender athletes.
“We are here today to stand up to the threats against the bullies,” Leah McDonald, an attendee, said.
“I’m here because I’m an educator, a mom, and grandmother, and a good human being, and I’m ashamed of how people are being treated because they’re different,” Cherrie Mecinnes, a teacher for MSAD 51 and an attendee of the rally, said.
Cumberland is home to MSAD 51, a school district that entered the national spotlight after state Rep. Laurel Libby posted a photo of a transgender athlete on Facebook.
This led to President Donald Trump threatening to withhold federal funds from the state of Maine if Gov. Janet Mills didn’t comply with his executive order to ban transgender athletes from playing in girls’ sports.
“We are here because this district, MSAD 51, and the state of Maine are being unjustly targeted for lawfully following the Maine Human Rights Act and allowing transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity,” McDonald said.
“Ensuring that our schools can provide safety, privacy, and support to all students, regardless of their identity, is crucial to the stability of our state and country. The president is no exception to upholding the Maine Human Rights Act,” a student from Greely said.
Last week, the Trump administration put the state of Maine on the clock.
He gave MSAD 51, the Maine Department of Education, and the Maine Principals Association 10 days to comply with the executive order.
Some Mainers are remaining firm in their positions, but Libby said the governor needs to change course.
“We need to ensure that our girls have a safe, fair, and level playing field, and it’s time for Gov. Mills to do the right thing and legislative Democrats to change the policies to ensure that biological males are not participating in girls’ sports so that we don’t lose hundreds of millions of dollars, that’s what’s at stake here,” Libby said.
Libby calls it a win-win situation.
“As soon as these policies change, we can ensure that our federal dollars will come to Maine and those are dollars that Maine’s schools and Maine students need,” she said.
The state of Maine has five more days before Trump’s deadline. At that point, the case could be referred to the Justice Department.
