Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey tackled a lawsuit filed against his state on Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Justice against his state over the state's stances regarding girls and transgender athletes in women's sports.
In an interview with CNN, Frey defended the state's continued support for trans-inclusion, claiming that there was “no safety issues” to make biological men compete with girls.
“We have worked to understand what is present in participation if there is a problem. Some of the harms that are alleged are actually concerns, and what we have identified is actually no safety concerns,” Frey said.
Frey also said he has “no concern” about trans athletes who “just choose” to compete in the girls category.
“I have no concern about individuals who choose the gender they want to give themselves to participate, so it's really a lot, whether or not there's an issue justifying this federal intrusion about what's going on in Maine schools,” Frey said.
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National recognition of Maine's trans athletes came on fire when they identified a pole vault jumper who won the Greeley High School girls' competition after competing in the boys category the previous season.
Safety concerns regarding trans inclusion in girls and women in sports have been raised nationwide after former high school volleyball player Payton McNabb was hit in the face with a trans athlete volleyball hit and suffered from brain hemorrhage and permanent whiplash.
Still, Frey argues that safety and competition concerns are not on the radar of Democratic civil servants in Maine, and that he now recognizes two trans athletes competing in the state's women's sports.
“There are only a few trans students who are involved in sports, and we came up with the two,” Frey said. He also suggested that Maine follows both state and federal law by allowing transport to women's sports.
Maine Government's Janet Mills responds to DOJ's lawsuit against her state over women's sports trans athletes
“Our position is that Title IX, which is consistent with Maine Human Rights Act, supports both federal and state laws that allow Trans girls to participate in high school sports that match their gender identity,” Frey said. “So my point is that Maine follows Title IX, and Maine follows Maine's human rights law.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondy announced the lawsuit at a press conference Wednesday morning.
Bondy said they are seeking an injunction and giving the title back to the girls who “justly” competed in the competitions that trans-athletes participated in. “The Justice Department has accused the openly and rebelliously fo-humiliated opposition laws by requiring that they compete with girls to compete with boys in FOX's exclusively designated athletic competition.”
“By prioritizing gender identity over biological realities, Maine's policy exposes girls' athletes to fair competition, denying them equal opportunities for movement, and increasing the risk of physical injury and psychological harm,” the complaint added.
The complaint also said the United States is seeking “a ruling granting a declarative injunction and seeking damages for defendants' violations of Title IX and for breach of a federal funding agreement that it undertakes to comply with Title IX and its implementation regulations.”
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Maine Gov. Janet Mills issued a statement later Wednesday in response to the lawsuit.
“Today is the latest expected salvo in an unprecedented campaign to pressure Maine to ignore the constitution and abandon the rule of law. The issue is not about school sports or protection of women and girls. Advocating for the rights of the state and the rule of law against the federal government is not about defending the rule of law by imposing that will instead of restraining the will to compensate for comparable Friday compensation. The federal government is acting illegally,” the statement was partially read.
Meanwhile, Maine school districts are moving to comply with Trump on behalf of the nation over the issue. The MSAD #70 School Board unanimously adhered to Title IX on Monday night, and Principal Tyler Putnam told Fox News Digital that it will amend the district's policies to prevent trans athletes from competing in women's sports.
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