A civil lawsuit against Maine was announced during a press conference on April 16. Attorney General Pam Bondi accused Maine of not complying with Title IX of the Civil Rights Act by allowing transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports. She argues that doing so harms cisgender female athletes.
“The Department of Justice will not sit by when women are discriminated against in sports,” said Bondi. “This is about sports; this is about these young women’s personal safety.”
According to Bondi, the federal government wants to file an injunction against Maine and their policies concerning transgender athletes, as well as having “the titles returned to young women who fully won these sports,” referring to two situations in which two transgender athletes won women’s competitions in cross country and pole vaulting.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills has claimed that Maine has followed federal law with its policies. She stated that the Trump administration was attempting to “pressure the State of Maine to ignore the Constitution and abandon the rule of law.” In retaliation, Trump stated, “You’d better comply, otherwise, you’re not getting any federal funding.”
Maine is not the only U.S. state to face legal issues on this matter. In February, the U.S. Department of Education announced that they were investigating the Minnesota State High School League’s policy on transgender athletes.
The league stated that it would continue to allow students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity, going against Trump’s executive order he signed in February concerning the subject.
California has also been threatened by the Trump administration after lawmakers refused to change state policies allowing transgender kids and teens to play on sports teams consistent with their gender identities.
While Bondi warned a lawsuit could be coming for Minnesota and California, she said it depends on how the state responds to the Department of Justice.
“We have reached out to (Minnesota and California),” explained Bondi. “We have sent them letters. We are in the same posture as we were in the beginning with Maine. So, let’s see what they do. Let’s hope they comply. Again, we don’t want to sue anyone, we just want you to comply with federal law and protect girls, period. But, yes, we are fully prepared to sue them and others as well.”