ROCKPORT, Maine — Police stepped into what was a minor incident at the polls at the Rockport Public Library on Election Day Tuesday when a debate broke out between a man gathering signatures for a petition and a resident.
Election workers at the scene reported that the man was gathering signatures for Protect Girls’ Sports in Maine. This is an effort that has brought signature-gatherers out to the polls in this election hoping to put a citizen initiative on the ballot for next year that would divide sports into three groups — biological girls/women, biological boys/men and those who identify as part of other groups. Critics of the proposal argue it amounts to discrimination against transgender students. However, some locals have been seen signing the petition as there is concern over the issue of transgender athletes.
In Rockport, a young woman reportedly came and sat nearby the man with a sign expressing disagreement with the petition.
A back-and-forth exchange reached the point where election Warden Rebecca Ewen decided to contact police. Chief Randy Gagne, Lt. Chris Young and Patrol Officer Jim Greeley of Rockport arrived on scene along with Mark Bennett of the Camden police and Fire Chief Jason Peasley.
Gagne said the man moved along without it becoming a fight or major problem.
The same group had people gathering signatures in Rockland and Camden. In some cases, those gathering signatures are contractors paid to do so. Some are paid by the signature or by the hour.
Former Gov. Paul LePage put a video on the Facebook page for the effort urging voters to sign the petition in favor of Protect Girls’ Sports.
The petitioners hope to put the referendum on the ballot in November 2026, which will already be a busy national and state election. The bill for Protect Girls’ Sports would require separate teams, locker rooms and bathrooms based on biological gender assigned at birth. The group needs 70,000 signatures and hopes to see the regulation go into effect in January 2027.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.
