Maine Lawmaker Sues After Being Censured for Social Media Posts on Trans Pole Vaulter

Rep. Laurel Libby sues the state House speaker after being stripped of her right to speak or vote on the floor. Maine’s six federal judges recuse themselves.

Lawmakers listen as parents speak about the prospect of their children competing against transgender athletes in school sports at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on March 25, 2022. Samuel Metz/AP Photo

A Maine lawmaker is suing the speaker of the state House of Representatives who censured her for viral social media posts about a transgender high school athlete who recently won a state championship in girls’ pole vaulting.

The March 11 complaint, filed by Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby of Auburn in U.S. District Court in Bangor, Maine, alleges that Democratic Rep. Ryan Fecteau violated her civil rights. Fecteau presided over the Feb. 25 vote to strip Libby’s right to speak or vote on the House floor. The resolution was written by Rep. Matt Moonen, also a Democrat, who is not named in the lawsuit.

It passed along party lines, 75–70 in favor of Democrats.

Libby, whose third term in office expires after 2026, is an outspoken critic of Maine’s policy allowing boys identifying as female to compete in girls’ sports.

The state’s Department of Education enforces Title IX provisions under former President Joe Biden’s amendment. It does not recognize President Donald Trump’s executive order prohibiting males from competing in female sports.

Court papers noted that the athlete took first place in the Class B girls’ pole-vaulting championship last month, scoring another point for the team and elevating Greely High School to a top finish as well. The local sports media also publicized the student’s achievements in the event.

Libby posted the results on her Facebook page, along with a picture of the athlete from last year that showed he competed in the boy’s division and finished 10th. Faces of other students in the photos were blurred. The student now identifies as female and changed first and last names, according to court papers.

Libby declined Fecteau’s request to take the social media postings down and apologize. The resolution to censure her stated that the postings were inappropriate.

The recorded House session where Libby was censured was also posted on social media. Democrats, several of them teachers, said their colleague had no right to post information and images of the student for the sake of a political position not shared by the state or school districts. Republicans cited her freedom of speech, the lack of policy governing social media use by state lawmakers, and the civil rights violations Maine leaders have welcomed by allowing boys to compete in girls’ sports.

Libby stated her position on Title IX and Trump’s executive order, but Fecteau continually cut her off and said she was allowed only to answer whether she thought her posts were inappropriate.

After her microphone was cut off, Libby broadcast the speech she had intended to give to the House via Facebook.

“This young man got fame for being state champion when the rightful winner of the girl’s pole vault lost out on her moment of fame. You know what? You can only picture that every feminist who worked so hard to get women to where we are today is rolling over in their grave to see this.”

The Epoch Times reached out to Fecteau for his comment regarding the lawsuit.

In a Feb. 25 statement on his personal website, Fecteau defended his actions.

“Sharing images of kids online without their consent is a clear violation of the bond of trust and respect between citizens and their Legislators. There is a time and place for policy debates. That time and place will never be a social media post attacking a Maine student. Maine kids, and all Maine people, deserve better,” the statement said.

“As the Legislative Code of Ethics states—the Maine Legislator will be ever mindful of the ordinary citizen who might otherwise be unrepresented and will endeavor conscientiously to pursue the highest standards of legislative conduct inside—and outside—of the State House.’”

The case has been moved to a Rhode Island federal court because all six U.S. District Court judges in Maine recused themselves for undisclosed reasons, according to case papers.

Libby is asking the court to reinstate her rights to speak and vote on the House floor. She is also seeking an undisclosed amount of relief for legal fees.

She told The Epoch Times on March 12 that she attended the House session Tuesday, and, in accordance with the censure, did not speak or vote on resolutions.

“My 9,000 constituents are thoroughly disenfranchised,” she said. She said she is seeking a court injunction to participate in House proceedings as soon as possible, and said either way she expects guidance from a judge within 21 days.

Libby said other Maine residents have filed complaints with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights alleging that the state is not complying with Title IX.

“[Maine] is risking hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding,” she said.