Maine Residents Protest Governor Mills Over Transgender Athlete Policy
A significant demonstration, dubbed the "March Against Mills," unfolded outside the Maine State House on Saturday morning, fueled by discontent with Governor Janet Mills’ stance on transgender athletes participating in women’s and girls’ sports. The protest stemmed from Mills’ recent conflict with former President Donald Trump regarding his executive order aimed at restricting transgender athletes’ access to female sports categories. The rally drew hundreds of participants, many of whom voiced their concerns and called for a change in the governor’s policies.
The core issue driving the protest centers on the perceived fairness and safety of allowing transgender athletes, particularly biological males who identify as female, to compete in sports designated for women and girls. Proponents of restricting transgender athlete participation argue that biological differences provide an unfair advantage to transgender women, potentially displacing cisgender female athletes from opportunities and compromising the integrity of women’s sports.
Several female athletes took center stage at the march, utilizing the microphone to articulate their grievances against Governor Mills and advocate for policies that prioritize the inclusion and fairness for biological female athletes. Their speeches resonated with the crowd, underscoring the depth of concern within the community.
Julia Deitrick, a junior at Lincoln Academy, emerged as a prominent voice in the debate. Her earlier impassioned speech at a school board meeting garnered significant attention, and she reiterated her concerns to the assembled supporters at the rally. Deitrick, despite not being a high school athlete herself, works as a reporter for the school newspaper. In this role, she claims to have witnessed firsthand what she describes as the negative consequences of biological males competing against female athletes.
Standing before signs proclaiming "Save Women’s Sports," Deitrick expressed a sense of betrayal, stating that those in power have failed to protect the integrity of women’s sports. "We have waited. We have spoken up. We have trusted those in power that they would protect the integrity of women’s sports. But our patience has only been met with inaction, dismissal and policies that continue to erode the opportunities and fairness that female athletes deserve," she declared.
Deitrick framed the issue as one that extends beyond individual games or seasons, emphasizing the potential long-term impact on future generations of female athletes. "This is not just about one team, one game or one season. This is about the future of women’s sports. It’s about every young girl in the state of Maine who laces up her cleats or steps onto the track with a dream of competing on a fair and level playing field," she asserted. She further highlighted the legacy of women who fought for athletic opportunities and the importance of preserving fairness and respect in sports for future generations.
Deitrick took a firm stance, urging female athletes to "refuse to compete" in games as a form of protest. "Let the silence of the scoreboards and stillness of the fields send a message louder than words ever could," she implored. She concluded her speech with a powerful assertion of female athletes’ determination, stating, "We are not just athletes. We are not just students. We are fighters. And we will not stop until fairness is restored and women’s sports remain for biological women."
Isabelle Hope, a former high school state softball champion and Division I softball player, also addressed the crowd, acknowledging the potential social repercussions of speaking out on the issue. "I might lose some friends in speaking out against transgender athletes in women’s sports, but maybe I’ll gain a few more," she admitted. Despite the potential personal cost, Hope emphasized that her motivation was not political. "I’m not up here for any political reason. I am here today because our girls should not have to fight for a fair chance. That chance should already be there and be protected," she stated.
Hope, while expressing support for the rights of transgender individuals to transition, maintained that biological differences warrant separate sports categories. "If someone truly feels like they are in the wrong skin, I fully believe they have every right to transition. We are a free country. However, I do not think women should have to sacrifice their spaces for equality because there will always be a difference when it comes to sports," she argued.
The protest follows escalating tension between Governor Mills and former President Trump over the issue. Trump reportedly threatened to withhold federal funding from Maine if Mills did not comply with his executive order on transgender athletes. The exchange, during which Trump stated, "We’ll see you in court," and "Well, we are the federal law. You better do it. You better do it because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t," was described as "embarrassing" by Maine state Rep. Katrina Smith, who also spoke at the rally. Smith criticized Mills for allegedly failing to support female athletes, stating, "When the people behind us are fighting for girls, she has chosen not to fight for them."
Following the confrontation, Trump ordered Title IX investigations into Maine, California, and Minnesota, states that have implemented policies perceived as inclusive of transgender athletes. The Department of Education enforces Title IX, a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
Ahead of the march, an online petition calling for Governor Mills’ recall garnered over 22,000 signatures, reflecting the widespread discontent over her policies. The "March Against Mills" and the surrounding controversy highlight the complex and emotionally charged nature of the debate surrounding transgender athletes’ participation in sports, raising fundamental questions about fairness, inclusion, and the definition of women’s sports.
