Maine Legislator Receives Pushback After Posting Pictures of Trans Student-Athlete to Facebook

A legislator from Maine is receiving pushback after she posted photos of a transgender high school student-athlete to her Facebook page. 

According to the Sun Journal, rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn), said Wednesday that she has no intention of removing the post or the photos despite a request to do so from House speaker Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford).

“This is an issue that is pertinent to all Mainers, but especially Maine girls, who should be able to expect a level playing field and right now they don’t have that,” Libby said in an interview Wednesday. “It’s absolutely unfair to female athletes who work hard every day to compete in their respective sports and who have to compete against male athletes.”

Fecteau responded with a written statement. 

“Politicians have long abided by the standard of not using children to score political points,” Fecteau said. “All kids, including transgender students, deserve better than to be used as political fodder for internet bullies. Kids should be able to focus on being kids. They shouldn’t have to worry about a politician sharing images of them online without their consent.”

In her post, Libby indentified a student-athlete she says transitioned from male to femal.

"We've learned that just *ONE* year ago John was competing in boy's pole vault," Libby wrote, circling a picture of male student-athlete on a podium. "That's when he had his 5th place finish. So all of this transpired in the last year, with the full blessing of the Maine Principals' Association.Two years ago, John tied for 5th place in boy's pole vault. Tonight, "Katie" won 1st place in the girls' Maine State Class B Championship."

That post was followed by another that criticized state officials’ decision to continue allowing transgender athletes to compete in Maine high school sports despite President Donald Trump’s executive order that trans athletes should be banned from all sports. “Male athletes competing against female athletes erases women and the significant accomplishments they have achieved in sports,” she said.

When asked whether identifying the student-athlete in the post could put them in harm's way, Libby said that the policies of the Maine Principals’ Association, which oversees high school sports, are putting female athletes at risk for harm.

“It’s not fair to Maine female athletes to have to compete against male athletes,” she said. “Frankly, it’s outrageous and that’s the focus here.”

Fecteau said in his written statement that Libby’s views do not represent the majority in the State House. 

“Most leaders in the Maine Legislature support LGBTQ+ Mainers,” he added. “I’m one of those leaders. I see you and I stand with you. You deserve to be your true self at home, at school, and when participating in sports.”