Maine Senate Blocks Transgender Sports Restrictions

The Maine Legislature has largely rejected bills seeking to restrict transgender individuals' rights, particularly in girls' and women's sports and public accommodations. The Maine House narrowly advanced a bill to bar transgender girls from competing in girls' sports at state-funded schools, but the Senate voted it down, continuing a pattern of failed restrictions. Debate in the legislature was intense and occasionally crossed party lines, reflecting a closely divided issue. The Trump administration has threatened to withhold federal funding from Maine due to its inclusive policies, and the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the state, with a trial scheduled for April 2026. Both sides expect ongoing legal and legislative battles as the controversy continues. Maine's longstanding anti-discrimination protections remain in place, allowing transgender girls to compete in female sports.