Maine DOE under federal investigation over trans athletes

The U.S. Department of Education announced late last week that its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is investigating the Maine Department of Education and one school district in the wake of a transgender student-athlete winning a high school state championship in a girls’ competition.

The OCR sent a letter to Maine DOE Commissioner Pender Makin noting the investigation of the state’s education department amid allegations that it continues to allow male athletes to compete in girls’ interscholastic athletics — violating federal anti-discrimination laws.

A recent article from WMTW.com detailed the reasons for the investigation and reaction from Maine policymakers. Below is an excerpt from the WMTW.com article.

Last week, Maine Rep. Laurel Libby, a Republican from Auburn, shared photos on her Facebook page showing a Greely High School student-athlete who won the girls’ Class B pole vault state championship. Libby claimed the same student tied for fifth place in the boys’ Class B pole vault at last year’s State Indoor Track & Field Championships. That Facebook post had more than 52,000 comments as of late Friday afternoon.

The OCR’s announcement follows remarks made Thursday night by President Donald Trump at the Republican Governors Association dinner. Trump said Maine risks losing federal funding if it continues to defy an executive order he signed by allowing transgender student-athletes to participate in girls’ sports.

In response, Maine Gov. Janet Mills said her administration and the state’s attorney general would take all appropriate and necessary legal action if Trump attempted to deprive Maine students of federal funding. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey said that any attempt by Trump to cut federal funding unless transgender students are restricted from playing sports would be illegal and in direct violation of federal court orders.

The OCR said that state laws do not override federal antidiscrimination laws, and the Maine DOE and its schools remain subject to Title IX and its implementing regulations.

To read the full story from WMTW.com, click here.