The executive director of the Maine Principals Association, Mike Burnham, has announced that high school sports teams in Maine will continue to determine eligibility based on a student’s stated gender identity, despite President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to keep “men out of women’s sports.” Burnham stated that the president’s order conflicts with state law protecting human rights, and as a result, the MPA will defer to state law regarding gender identity in high school athletics.
While the NCAA revised its guidelines on transgender participation in sports, Maine and a few other states have stated they will continue to allow transgender women to compete on women’s sports teams in accordance with state laws. Trump’s executive order aims to enforce strict Title IX guidelines against any educational institutions or athletic associations that do not comply, threatening to withhold federal assistance in such cases.
Civil rights attorney Sarah Perry noted that these states could face federal Title IX investigations and potential loss of funding if they do not adhere to the executive order. Although states like Maine have chosen to follow state law over federal directives, Perry believes they may ultimately have to comply with Trump’s demands as investigations and financial repercussions begin to take effect. The conflict between federal and state laws regarding transgender participation in women’s sports remains a contentious issue, with legal battles and potential enforcement actions on the horizon.
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