Maine’s Regional School Unit (RSU) 24 school board voted on Tuesday to join the Hodgdon School Board in defying Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) by revoking its transgender policies, including those allowing students to use bathrooms and other facilities based on gender identity rather than biological sex.
“In a 7-1 vote RSU 24 voted to rescind its previous transgender policy (pictured here) which also included recognizing the student’s identity even in defiance of the parent’s wishes. I applaud and support the Board’s courage and action on this matter,” said House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) on Facebook.
RSU 24 encompasses six schools and serves the towns of Eastbrook, Franklin, Gouldsboro, Mariaville, Steuben, Sorrento, Sullivan, Waltham, and Winter Harbor.
The district’s previous policy, “Transgender and Gender Expansive Students” directed schools to allow transgender-identifying students to use the bathrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms corresponding to their self-selected gender identity rather than their biological sex.
The now-overturned policy also instructed schools to avoid gender-based activities, policies, or other practices whenever possible, but when gender-based activities are permitted, students have been allowed to participate based on gender identity rather than biological sex, and the reversal does not clearly state whether this will change.
Under the old policy, schools were instructed to defy the wishes of parents, and treat children by their chosen gender identity.
“In the event that a student and their parent or legal guardian do not agree with regard to the student’s gender identity or gender expression, the school shall abide by the wishes of the student with regard to their gender identity and gender expression while at school,” said the policy.
Tuesday’s school board vote revoked the entirety of the transgender policy, reaffirming parental rights and protecting girls from being forced to change in front of biological males.
The decision brings the district into compliance with a day-one executive order from President Donald Trump that mandated that intimate facilities be designated by biological sex rather than perceived gender identity.
The impact of the vote on the school’s transgender athlete policy remains somewhat unclear. The now-repealed policy did not officially determine whether trans-identifying males would be allowed to compete against girls. Instead, it left that decision up to the Maine Principals Association (MPA).
Though the school has repealed that provision, it did not adopt an alternative policy specifically banning males from girls’ sports, and, given that the MPA has authority over high school sports and continues to support trans-identifying athletes, they may still be allowed to compete.
