A Maine school board voted Thursday night to keep a controversial gender policy in place despite an ongoing lawsuit from the Maine Human Rights Commission.
As reported by ABC affiliate WMTW in Portland, the school board serving Regional School Unit 73 in Livermore Falls will continue preventing transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports. The policy, in place since October in compliance with the Trump Administration's interpretation of Title IX, was up for rescinding at Thursday's meeting at Spruce Mountain High School.
The policy led the Maine Human Rights Commission to file a lawsuit against the school district, alleging the policy fosters "a hostile educational environment for gender nonconforming students."
The commission is also suing four other school districts over transgender rights.
According to WMTW reported Bonnie Bishop, some are pushing back on the policy, while others say it should stand.
"Are you aware that caring for our LGBTQ students and making them feel accepted is actually suicide prevention?" said Spruce Mountain High School teacher Heather AhernHuish.
"This policy wants us to protect girls by keeping girls' sports for girls," said RSU 73 school board member Andrew Sylvester.
With the policy in place, the legal battle with the Maine Human Rights Commission will continue. Some worry about the cost of legal fees. "Our tax dollars go to all of this legal advice," said Elaine Fitzgerald, another RSU 73 school board member.
RSU 73 School Board Chair Shari Ouellette says there may be a way to avoid taxpayer spending. "We do have a grant that is being offered our lawyers to help fund this suit," Ouellette said, as reported by WMTW.
The group, Alliance Defending Freedom, is known for providing legal counsel in order to protect parental rights and religious freedoms.
The board also voted to hire new legal counsel for the lawsuit.
