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Laurel Libby of Auburn is a member of the Maine House of Representatives and co-founder of The Dinner Table.
Editor’s note: Rep. Laurel Libby insisted on the use of the term “biological male” as a requirement for publication of this column. The Associated Press, of which the Bangor Daily News is a member, advises against the use of the term because it says it is misleading. Because Libby was responding to a BDN editorial, we felt it was important to publish this column.
As a state representative, a woman who understands the value of competition, and yes, a mother, I take my responsibility to stand up for truth, fairness, and equality seriously. That’s why I’ve been challenging a policy that I believe undermines the integrity of women’s sports and strips girls of their right to compete on a level playing field.
When I saw a biological male dominating the girls’ pole vault event at the Maine State Class B championship in February, I felt compelled to speak out. I shared publicly available photos from the meet, where the results were already posted online.
It’s true that a picture speaks a thousand words; in this case, the pictures shed light on a very real issue impacting female athletes in Maine and across the country.
Instead of engaging with the substance of the issue head on, some of my critics immediately sought to vilify me. Instead of addressing the fundamental unfairness I was highlighting, they labeled me hateful and intolerant, an all-too-common tactic to shut down honest discussion.
Shortly thereafter, I was censured by a partisan vote of the Democratic majority in the Maine House of Representatives, and stripped of my right to speak or vote until I issued a full apology. When I tried to defend myself, I was repeatedly interrupted and my microphone was cut off. I wasn’t even allowed to finish my remarks before being silenced.
Now, the Bangor Daily News published an editorial accusing me of “doxing” and using intimidation tactics against a minor. These accusations are disingenuous and part of what I see as a coordinated effort to silence anyone who challenges the prevailing narrative. Labeling legitimate concerns as “hate” or “doxing” is a deliberate attempt to shut down debate and intimidate lawmakers, parents, and female athletes into silence. But I refuse to be intimidated.
The real questions here are being ignored: Why is it acceptable for women and girls to be actively discriminated against by their own government? Why are their rights to fair competition being erased? And why, in an Orwellian twist, is it considered hateful to stand up for them?
Allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports undoes decades of progress for which women have fought. It ignores science, fairness, and common sense. Girls deserve for their hard work to be recognized and rewarded, not ignored by policies that prioritize ideology over reality.
To my Democratic colleagues in the Maine House and their allies in the media who are working so hard to silence me: If we can’t even acknowledge what’s happening in our schools and on our athletic fields, how can we fix it? Ignoring these issues — or attacking those who speak up — does a grave disservice to parents and young athletes who see the problem clearly.
The hypocrisy is staggering. The same people attacking me have nothing to say about the young girls losing out on scholarships, opportunities and records they’ve spent their lives working for. Where is the concern for them? Where is the recognition of their humanity?
All children deserve compassion and respect. But that includes the girls being asked to sacrifice their dreams on the altar of a radical agenda. Protecting children means protecting the truth. It means ensuring that sports remain fair and that biological differences are acknowledged, not erased.
Defenders of fairness shouldn’t have to withstand personal smears and censorship. But I’m willing to face the backlash because I know the truth matters. If we stay silent, the consequences will go far beyond sports. They will shape the future for our daughters and granddaughters.
My critics can twist my words and misrepresent my actions all they want, but this is not about hate or exclusion. It’s about truth, fairness, and protecting the opportunities that generations of women fought to secure. And I will not apologize for defending all three.
