Maine girls to speak out on trans athletes as parents revive ballot push on eve of Senate election

Maine high school girls will speak publicly about competing against transgender athletes Monday as parents prepare to submit nearly 5,000 additional signatures in a renewed effort to put restrictions on girls sports and school facilities before voters.

The Nov. 2 news conference in Augusta comes one day before Maines closely watched Senate election, bringing renewed attention to the issue that triggered a confrontation between President Donald Trump and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills in early 2025.

The Protect Girls Sports in Maine ballot committee is seeking a place on the 2027 ballot, after its earlier petition fell 532 valid signatures short of qualifying for this years election.

Two female athletes from Windham High School and Fryeburg Academy are scheduled to participate alongside parents, representatives of Alliance Defending Freedom and the Independent Council on Womens Sports, known as ICONS.

"Its appalling and shameful what these girls and hundreds of others have endured in Maine, and we are so glad they reached out for support," ICONS co-founder Kim Jones said in a statement ahead of the event. "Their stories are a historical dark mark on Maines treatment of its women and girls."

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"We are proud to stand alongside these young female athletes and their families to unapologetically say that women and girls deserve fair and safe sports, as well as privacy and dignity in places of undress," Jones continued. "There should be no male students on girls teams, and no male students in girls restrooms and locker rooms."

The initiative, "An Act to Designate School Sports Participation and Facilities by Sex," would establish requirements based on students sex as recorded on their original birth certificates for participation in designated school sports and access to bathrooms and other private spaces. It would also allow students to sue schools over violations.

Leyland Streiff, the ballot committees principal officer and a leader of Maine Girl Dads, said approximately 100 volunteers collected the additional signatures over the past month.

"Despite needing only 532 more signatures to make the 2027 ballot, the committee is submitting almost 5,000," Streiff said in the event announcement.

The signatures would still require review before the initiative could qualify.

The renewed push follows months of litigation over the original petition. According to Maines Supreme Judicial Court, organizers submitted 79,692 signatures in February, and election officials initially determined that enough were valid to move the proposal forward.

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A subsequent challenge resulted in a revised determination leaving the petition below the required 67,682 valid signatures. The dispute included 1,520 signatures collected by four nonresident circulators who had not timely consented to Maine courts jurisdiction. The states highest court upheld their invalidation July 10.

Organizers say they pursued a federal court challenge while collecting additional signatures to advance the initiative for 2027.

Retired professional soccer player Carly Smolak, who will appear with ICONS, said the effort concerns recognition of female athletes accomplishments.

"I am honored to stand beside these courageous soccer players to stand up for the right of every female athle