Nearly 500 Maine locals rallied outside the State House protesting Governor Janet Mills’ refusal to exclude men from women’s sports and spaces. The demonstration was in response to Mills’ resistance to President Trump’s directive opposing transgender participation in sports. This disagreement was ignited following a transgender high school boy winning first place in girls’ pole vaulting at Maine’s Class B state championship.
A large protest organized by grassroots activists has developed at the State House in Maine in opposition to Maine Gov. Janet Mills continuing to force girls to play sports against male athletes. pic.twitter.com/x6bQvrxB2p
— Steve Robinson (@BigSteve207) March 1, 2025
The protest proves a considerable contrast to the recent pro-Mills event, which apparently only rallied “dozens” of supporters. A large part of the protest’s motivation lies in the belief that Mills’ transgender policies do not echo the sentiment of majority Maine residents. Mills’ decisions have deepened the division between rural and urban zones and that her policies don’t represent the majority’s values. The protestors are calling for accountability from elected officials and their alignment with the public’s best interests, not personal agendas.
Meanwhile, the opposition to Mills’ stance has resulted in an individual named Melissa Moulton launching a Change.org petition calling for Mills’ resignation. The petition has currently received over 23,000 signatures. Additionally, as Maine continues to allow males in female spaces, Trump has stated he will withhold federal funding from the state, and Title IX investigations into the state have been initiated by the United States Departments of Education and Agriculture.