News from the Pine Tree State
‘See you in court’
Maine Gov. Janet Mills had heated words with President Trump at a meeting of the National Governors Association in Washington, DC over Trump’s threat to withhold federal funds from states where transgender athletes can play on girls and women’s school sports teams.
At the meeting, Trump called out Governor Mills as he “put schools and states on notice” that they could lose federal funding if they don’t comply with his executive order banning transgender girls and women from participating on school sports teams.
The order conflicts with Maine’s state antidiscrimination laws that protect transgender people.
“Is Maine here? The governor of Maine?” Trump called out to the gathering. “Are you not going to comply with it?”
“I’m going to comply with state and federal law,” Mills replied.
“We are the federal law,” said Trump. “You better do it because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t. And by the way, your population, even though it’s somewhat liberal, although I did very well there, your population doesn’t want men playing in women’s sports.”
“We’re going to follow the law, sir,” Mills cooly responded. “We’ll see you in court.”
Mainline support
EqualityMaine and the Maine Council of Churches, an ecumenical coalition of seven mainline Protestant member denominations, released a joint statement by their executive directors.
“[Our organizations] respect and honor the right to exercise freedom of religion. Both organizations also condemn discrimination against vulnerable marginalized members of our community under any guise. We adamantly reject two Maine Christian schools’ argument that they shouldn’t have to follow Maine’s anti-discrimination law in order to receive public funding. Crosspoint Church and St. Dominic Academy sued the state in 2023 claiming that Maine’s anti-discrimination law violates the schools’ rights to religious freedom; we believe that religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights are not mutually exclusive,” their statement read in part.
“When anyone believes that another’s existence infringes on their religious beliefs and wishes to deny LGBTQ+ students their rights, their dignity, and their existence, they are actively hurting LGBTQ+ youth. EqualityMaine and Maine Council of Churches are committed to the protection of human rights and resist attempts to redefine religious liberty as a license to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people.”
Opportunity grant
For the second year, OUT Maine received a $15K grant from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine’s Opportunity Fund to support the organization’s work in broadening LGBTQ+ youth support and educational programs for community, school staff and service providers throughout the Hancock County school system.
“The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine has been a generous supporter of our organization’s work in Hancock County, and it is amazing to see that support continue,” says OUT Maine Executive Director Sue Campbell.
“This funding enables our staff to continue providing essential programs and resources that create safe, affirming spaces for young people to thrive. That’s needed now more than ever. Together, we are building stronger, more inclusive communities where all youth can feel valued and supported.”
Cohort trainings
OUT Maine has received a grant from the Onion Foundation to fund three learning cohort groups in 2025 with the goal of developing best practices around the implementation of inclusive programming in the arts and culture sector. The first cohort was offered In April; the others come this August and October. They include in-person sessions covering best practices, self-assessment and goal-setting for two to three members of nonprofits.
More: outmaine.org
Protection from executive order
The Trump administration’s executive order recognizing only two genders, male and female, will not affect the state’s law and school board policies, according to a statement issued in February by Maine’s Department of Education.
Protections in the Maine Human Rights Act require that all students must be allowed to participate in “all educational, counseling and vocational guidance programs, all apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs and all extracurricular activities without discrimination because of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, a physical or mental disability, ancestry, national origin, race, color or religion.”
“The MHRA also prohibits retaliation for asserting MHRA-protected rights,” the announcement said.
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