The Maine House of Representatives voted Tuesday to censure Rep. Laurel Libby (R) after she publicly criticized [1] the state’s policy allowing biological male athletes to compete in girls’ sports.
The censure, passed in a 75-70 vote, bars Libby from speaking on the House floor until she issues a formal apology.
The controversy began when Libby posted on social media about a recent high school track and field event, where Katie Spencer, a biological male who now competes as a female, won first place in the pole vault competition at the Class B state indoor meet in Maine.
Libby criticized the outcome, stating:
“Another day, another instance of an unremarkable biological male athlete (who couldn’t win against other males) dominating girls’ sports.”
Meet John, who now goes by Katie.
John won the girl’s pole-vaulting state championship in Maine, after the state deliberately ignored current federal rules and allowed him to compete. pic.twitter.com/aROUERYdR5 [2]
— Rep. Laurel Libby (@laurel_libby) February 18, 2025 [3]
She went on to accuse the Maine Principals’ Association of disregarding federal regulations designed to protect fairness in girls’ athletics.
“The Maine Principals’ Association’s blatant disregard for federal rules means that deserving, BIOLOGICAL girls have titles ripped away from them. This is outrageous and unfair to the many female athletes who work every single day to succeed in their respective sports.”
The Maine Principals’ Association’s blatant disregard for federal rules means that deserving, BIOLOGICAL girls, have titles ripped away from them. This is outrageous, and unfair to the many female athletes who work every single day to succeed in their respective sports.
— Rep. Laurel Libby (@laurel_libby) February 18, 2025 [4]
UPDATE: We’ve learned that *just ONE year ago* John was competing in boy’s pole vault. That’s when he had his fifth place finish.
So all of this has transpired in the last year, with the full blessing of the Maine Principals’ Association.
— Rep. Laurel Libby (@laurel_libby) February 19, 2025 [5]
Following her comments, House Speaker Ryan Fecteau (D) led the push to censure Libby, claiming that she had violated decorum by publicly naming the transgender athlete.
The vote was taken Tuesday night, effectively silencing her until she offers an apology.
After the vote, Fecteau announced a break to allow Libby time to reconsider and apologize. However, Libby refused.
“I told him, ‘We do not need to take ease’ as I was going to continue speaking up for Maine girls,” she later told the press.
Spencer, who competed as a male last year for Greely High School in Cumberland, Maine, joined the girls’ team this season after transitioning.
At the recent meet, Spencer beat two female athletes from Freeport High School, securing first place in the pole vault event.
Had Spencer competed in the boys’ division, the winning score in the girls’ competition would have placed him tenth in the boys’ standings.
Additionally, Greely won the overall team championship by a single point, meaning Spencer’s victory directly influenced the final result.
Maine Democrats justified the censure by arguing that Libby’s post violated the privacy of the student-athlete.
However, Libby pointed out that Spencer’s name and photo were already widely published by multiple media outlets, including those reporting on the event.
“It’s a remarkable double standard as there are public photos of this individual in many places, on social media, and even some posted by his school,” Libby stated.
“Yes, this post went viral, but this was an individual who participated in a public event, who publicly stood on a podium and accepted a championship medal that rightfully belonged to the girls standing on the second-place spot.”
Libby further claimed that Democrats made a concerted effort to suppress her speech during the legislative session.
“I was completely unable, from my first sentence, to get a word out, before the other side was shutting me down,” she said in a video posted to Facebook.
Maine has emerged as a battleground over President Donald Trump’s recent changes to Title IX, which now ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.
Last week, Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) confronted Trump at a White House meeting with state governors, telling him that she would take legal action to prevent enforcement of the new rules in Maine.
🔥 President Trump calls Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) out to her face over her refusal to comply with the executive order keeping men out of women’s sports:
“You better do it — because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t.” pic.twitter.com/uMUZsy1j6t [6]
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 21, 2025 [7]
With the debate intensifying, Libby’s censure underscores the growing conflict over fairness in women’s sports and free speech in the political arena.