Augusta, Maine – Republican lawmakers gathered to voice support for a citizen-initiated referendum aimed at restricting participation in girls’ sports and access to female-only spaces based on biological sex, while also criticizing the wording of the ballot question introduced by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D).
They also urged the public to take part in a hearing on the issue scheduled for tomorrow.
Speaking at the event, Assistant House Republican Leader Katrina Smith said lawmakers assembled to address what she described as a growing concern over protecting girls in Maine.
Smith focused her remarks on the referendum language drafted by the Secretary of State, arguing that the question was not written in a neutral manner.
“The role of Secretary of State is not to advocate for one side of a policy debate,” Smith said. “The role is to ensure elections are conducted fairly and that ballot questions are written clearly and neutrally so voters can decide for themselves.”
Smith argued that the wording of the question uses phrasing that frames the issue negatively and could influence voter perception. She pointed specifically to the use of phrases such as “restrict access” and references to lawsuits, which she said go beyond a straightforward description of the proposal.
She also noted that tens of thousands of Maine residents signed petitions to place the referendum on the ballot, saying those voters supported what she described as a straightforward effort to protect girls and private spaces.
Smith encouraged residents to submit public comments regarding the ballot language and to participate in the public hearing on the referendum scheduled for tomorrow.
Rep. Jennifer Poirier, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee representing House District 70 in Skowhegan, said a public hearing on the referendum is set for 9 a.m. tomorrow.
Poirier said she had been working with committee leadership and the Speaker of the House to ensure the hearing took place, describing it as a required step under state law governing citizen-initiated referendums.
“This is a great opportunity for the public to come and share their views one way or another on this referendum issue,” Poirier said.
She said the referendum process includes several required stages, including a public hearing, a work session, and a floor vote. Poirier also questioned why, in her view, members of the majority party had resisted holding hearings in similar circumstances in the past.
Poirier encouraged residents to testify either in person, via Zoom, or through written submissions.
Sen. Stacy Guerin, who represents Piscataquis County and part of Penobscot County, shared personal reflections as she addressed the issue of physical differences between males and females.
Guerin described raising five sons and said that as they grew older, physical differences became more pronounced during shared outdoor activities.
She said those experiences illustrated what she characterized as inherent biological advantages and suggested that similar dynamics could affect competition in organized sports.
Guerin expressed hope that voters would engage in the referendum process and share their experiences during tomorrow’s hearing.
Sen. Sue Bernard of Aroostook County said she introduced legislation similar to the referendum question in an effort to address concerns about fairness in girls’ athletics.
Bernard pointed to results from the Class A track and field championships earlier in the year, noting that the winning time in the boys’ 800-meter run was one minute 55.5 seconds, while the girls’ winning time in the same event was two minutes 17.65 seconds, more than a 20-second difference.
She said that if the girls’ winner had competed in the boys’ race finals, she would have placed last.
“Acknowledging this advantage is not disrespecting the transgender community,” Bernard said.
Bernard said she supports allowing all students to participate in athletics, including through co-ed competition, but emphasized the importance of maintaining opportunities for biological girls to compete separately.
She warned that without policy changes, some girls may choose not to compete in sports.
“My fear is that faced with this impossible situation, many girls will just walk away and not compete in their beloved sports,” Bernard said.
Bernard added that girls deserve spaces where they have a fair chance to compete and succeed.
Sen. Marianne Moore, who represents Washington County and 16 communities in eastern Hancock County, spoke about what she described as concerns involving female-only locker rooms and private spaces.
Moore framed the issue as a question of balancing rights when transgender students and biological female students share facilities.
“If one transgender girl is in a locker room with 99 biological girls, whose rights are being violated?” Moore said.
She argued that policymakers face difficult decisions when what she described as competing interests come into conflict and said that many biological female students did not request such arrangements.
Moore concluded by emphasizing what she characterized as fairness concerns for girls using shared spaces.
The lawmakers repeatedly encouraged public participation in tomorrow’s hearing, describing it as a key opportunity for Maine residents to weigh in on the referendum before it advances through the legislative process.
Bellows is every bit as corrupt as old Mills. Likely why they work together so well. We have got to stop electing clowns in this state
Maine’s corruption runs deep.