Hundreds turn out for trans students’ rights as Maine faces federal compliance countdown

On a blustery Sunday morning, hundreds of people gathered across the road from Greely High School, which has made national headlines and been found in violation of federal civil rights by President Donald Trump’s administration for its inclusion of transgender athletes. 

Parents, students, and trans allies carrying signs reading “Support Trans Youth,” gathered to urge the school district and state to stay strong in its support of Maine’s inclusive policies — and more broadly the trans community — despite the targeted investigations and external pressure to change. The federal government has given Maine a deadline of just over a week to either comply or risk losing millions in federal funding. 

Students and parents of the Cumberland-area district were joined by state and local lawmakers as they chanted “We will not back down,” and lined several main roads with signs and flags.

Last month, Trump singled out a trans athlete at Greely High School after state Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) posted on her official legislative Facebook page about the student winning a competition, drawing national attention to the 700-student school. After a tense exchange with Gov. Janet Mills, the Trump administration launched targeted investigations into the high school and the Maine Department of Education. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Education found Maine to be in violation of Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination. That determination was based on an interpretation of federal law that claims that allowing trans girls to compete in girls’ sports takes opportunities away from cisgender girls. 

However, the trans athlete debate is about more than sports, which parents and organizers highlighted at the event. 

“I think all you have to do is look at the rhetoric of the other side to truly understand what’s going on. If it was really an issue of trans people in sports and possible unfair advantages, you would see more healthy, more nuanced dialogue,” said Alice Frost, a West Gardiner resident who said she attended the protest to show her support for fellow trans people.

“I think Maine has responded extremely well, where we’re putting ourselves at the front lines by saying, ‘No, this isn’t okay. We have our rights,’ and not just protecting trans people, but also protecting states rights of how they govern themselves.”

Rep. Anne Graham, a Democrat who represents North Yarmouth, voiced her support of trans and LGBTQ+ youth at the event on behalf of the other area lawmakers, including Rep. Christina Mitchell and Sen. Teresa Pierce.

“You need to know that we have your backs,” she said. “We will fight to keep all of our children safe, and we will fight for equality and respect for all human beings.”

MSAD 51 students show support

Greely middle and high schoolers were among the crowd on Sunday, holding signs and marching with the crowd. Several students told Maine Morning Star that the past few weeks of school have been tense.

“I definitely felt kind of like a sense of fear getting such attention for a relatively small school. I know for myself, it was very unsettling,” said Harper Bubblo, a Greely High School student.

“But I’ve talked to peers about what we can do to prove that MSAD 51 is and will always be a supportive community, and we’re not going to back down and have people tell us what to do.” 

Despite not knowing her personally, Bubblo and classmate Sydney Klimaytis attended the rally to demonstrate their support for the trans athlete at the center of the storm.

“Just the fact that we’ve gotten such a lot of coverage .. it’s made me want to be more active in the community to show my support,” Klimaytis said. “To show that we will not let any hate be present in our school.”

As the rally wound down, three 12-year-old middle schoolers stood at the entrance of Greely Middle School holding signs. Not everyone at the middle school has been supportive of their trans classmates, the girls said, but they chose to show up because it’s important for people their age to start getting involved to defend those who can’t stand up for themselves.

“It felt empowering, like we could make a difference,” said Charlotte McGlinn, one of the students.