“To every girl athlete in Maine: I know what it feels like to wonder if your voice matters—but I’m here to tell you that it does. This hearing is a chance for us to show up for one another, to be present, and to let decision-makers see that we care deeply about the future of girls in sports. I know how much courage it takes to be there, to listen, or to speak, but you won’t be standing alone, your presence means something powerful. We’re stronger when we stand together, and together, we can create a space where every girl feels seen, heard, and truly valued.”
Cassidy Carlisle – High School Senior and Varsity Athlete from Presque Isle
Maine’s Legislature can be frustrating. Too often, it feels like our elected “representation” has been replaced by political operatives and special interests. When we try to make our voices heard in Augusta, we’re often ignored—or completely drowned out.
But we can’t let that discourage us.
Now more than ever, we need to show up and speak up, especially on the issues that impact our faith, our families, and our future. This is a critical week at the State House. Lawmakers will be considering several bills that will significantly impact our state, and we need to make sure they hear from us.
Will you join us in speaking up?
You can come to the State House, testify via Zoom, or submit written comments directly to the Judiciary Committee. Below are the bills we’re focused on this week, along with instructions for how you can make your voice heard.
Thursday, May 8 at 9:30 AM
LD 868 An Act to Ensure Equity and Safety in Athletics, Restrooms, Changing Rooms and Housing at Elementary, Secondary and Postsecondary Schools – Rep. Elizabeth Caruso
Reasons to support this bill are obvious, but below are a few key points to consider as you craft testimony in support.
1. Biological Differences Matter: Males typically have physical advantages—such as greater muscle mass and bone density—that can impact fairness in female sports. LD 868 ensures that girls compete on an even playing field.
2. Upholding Title IX: This bill aligns with the intent of Title IX by preserving opportunities for female athletes to excel without unfair competition from biological males.
3. Respecting Boundaries: LD 868 mandates that restrooms, locker rooms, and sleeping quarters in schools be designated based on biological sex, safeguarding students’ privacy and comfort.
4. Parental Trust: Parents and families should be able to expect schools to maintain environments that reflect their values and protect their children’s well-being. LD 868 reinforces that trust by setting clear standards.
Click here for a one-page pamphlet with more details on the bill.
Thursday, May 8 at 1:00 PM
LD 1337 An Act to Amend the Maine Human Rights Act Regarding Female Athletes and Safety in Women’s Single-sex Shelters – Rep. Elizabeth Caruso
1. Protecting Women’s Safety: The bill aims to ensure that women seeking emergency shelter due to safety concerns have access to spaces exclusively for women, recognizing the importance of such environments for their well-being.
2. Upholding Title IX Protections: By clarifying that the Maine Human Rights Act does not interfere with federal Title IX rights, the bill reinforces protections for female athletes in educational settings.
3. Balancing Rights and Protections: The proposed amendments attempt to balance anti-discrimination principles with the need for specific protections for women in vulnerable situations and in sports.
Thursday, May 8 at 3:00 PM
LD 380 An Act to Amend Certain Laws Regarding Gender-affirming Health Care Services – Sen. David Haggan
Like many other states—and most of the Western world—Maine should ban all forms of hormonal and surgical gender therapy for minors. However, recognizing that such a policy is unlikely to pass in the current legislature, this bill takes an important step in the right direction: it restores a parent’s right to be involved.
Last session, lawmakers stripped parents of the ability to intervene when a 16- or 17-year-old child pursued gender transition. But these are still kids. Life-altering medical decisions shouldn’t be made without the guidance and care of a parent. This bill reaffirms a basic truth: parents matter—and they should have a voice when their child’s future is at stake.
1. Restores Parental Rights: No parent should be cut out of life-altering medical decisions for their child. This amendment corrects a dangerous law and reaffirms that mothers and fathers, not government-backed clinics, should be in charge of their child’s health care.
2. Protects Children from Permanent Harm: Gender-transition hormones can cause irreversible changes to a young person’s body. Parents cannot be excluded from these decisions! This amendment prioritizes caution, maturity, and family support—not rushed, politicized medicine.
3. Aligns Maine with Common Sense and National Trends: Many states across the country are taking steps to strengthen parental involvement and slow down the rush to transition minors. This amendment brings Maine back into line with how other serious medical issues are treated—with parents at the center.
All hearings will take place in room 438 in the State House. Testimony in writing or sign-up for zoom testimony can be found HERE.
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