Maine and a GOP lawmaker who ID'd a transgender athlete online agree lawsuit is now moot
Share and Follow


PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Attorneys for the state of Maine and a conservative lawmaker who identified a transgender teen student athlete online now agree that the lawmaker’s appeal over her loss of voting rights for her post is now moot.

Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby identified the athlete in a February social media post that went viral and called into question the student’s gender identity, bringing attention to the issue of transgender teens participating in sports. Maine’s Democratic-controlled House of Representatives censured Libby for violating the House code of ethics and blocked her from speaking and voting on the floor.

Libby sued, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in May that the Maine legislature must allow her to vote. Lawmakers voted in June to halt the restrictions.

Maine Assistant Attorney General Kimberly Patwardhan said in court papers filed late last month that there are “no longer any restrictions on Rep. Libby’s ability to vote or debate” and “this appeal is now moot.” Libby said in a statement Monday that she will “not contest the AG’s mootness argument” and added that she never provided the apology House Democrats asked of her.

“I believe this case sends a clear message: elected officials do not surrender their constitutional rights at the Capitol steps — and neither do the people who sent them there,” Libby said.

The appeal still needs to be formally dismissed by a court, but it is essentially dropped “given that both parties are in agreement about the mootness issue,” said Danna Hayes, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office.

Libby’s post was about a high school athlete who won a girls’ track competition. She said the student had previously competed in boys’ track. Her post included a photo of the student and first-name identification in quotation marks.

The post preceded a public disagreement between President Donald Trump and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills over the subject of transgender athletes. Trump signed an executive order designed to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports earlier this year. At a meeting of governors at the White House in February, Trump characterized Maine as out of compliance with order.

Mills told Trump: “We’ll see you in court.” The Trump administration then launched investigations into Maine’s Title IX compliance. An attorney for the state said in April that the state and federal government are at an impasse over the subject.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Gwen Stefani, Lady A, Iam Tongi to perform on 'Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade' airing Christmas morning

Star-Studded Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade: Gwen Stefani, Lady A, and Iam Tongi Set to Dazzle on Christmas Morning

Disney is set to add a touch of enchantment to your Christmas…
With FDA approval of Wegovy pill, new era of oral GLP-1 weight loss drugs begins

FDA Greenlights Wegovy Pill: A New Chapter for Oral GLP-1 Weight Loss Solutions Begins

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given the green light to…
Beloved SeaWorld Orlando killer whale, Katina, dies

Beloved SeaWorld Orlando Orca, Katina, Passes Away

SeaWorld Orlando mourns the loss of one of its cherished orcas, Katina,…
Body of missing Melodee Buzzard is found months after she vanished

Tragic Discovery: Missing Melodee Buzzard’s Body Found Months After Disappearance

The search for Melodee Buzzard has ended in tragedy, as her body…
Inside Jeffrey Epstein's sadistic temple on 'Pedophile Island'

Unveiling the Dark Secrets of Jeffrey Epstein’s Sinister Temple on ‘Pedophile Island

The enigmatic temple on Jeffrey Epstein’s notorious ‘pedophile island’ has long been…
Brown University police chief placed on leave

Brown University Police Chief Temporarily Relieved of Duties: What You Need to Know

The chief of police at Brown University has been placed on leave…
Singer-songwriter Todd Snider dies at 59

Remembering Helen Siff: Celebrated Character Actress from ‘Modern Family’ and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Passes Away

Helen Siff, a beloved actress with a career boasting over 70 television…
Explosive bomb cyclone to slam US on Christmas Eve with deadly weather

Brace for Impact: Deadly Bomb Cyclone to Unleash Severe Christmas Eve Weather Across the US

Brace yourself for a ‘bomb cyclone’ set to unleash torrential rain, flooding,…