HELP US TO GET
Protect Girls' Sports IN MAINE
REFERENDUM ONTO THE 2026 BALLOT
What exactly are we doing?
We have kicked off a citizen’s initiative that aims to protect girls’ sports across Maine by designating school sports participation and facilities (like locker rooms and bathrooms) by sex. This proposed act ensures everyone gets to play sports (nobody would ever be ‘banned’), while ensuring the most competitive, fair, and safe play for everyone.
What is a balloon referendum? How and when does it get on the ballot?
This is a proposed act (per the Secretary of State, named “An Act to Designate School Sports Participation and Facilities by Sex” — link to Read the Act) that would become a ballot question at the November 2026 election.
To get on the ballot, there needs to be enough public support (shown by a minimum of 68,000 signatures on the ballot referendum petition). If those signatures are received and verified by February, this proposed act will be on the 2026 ballot for all of Maine to vote on. What could be more democratic?
Why is this bill needed?
The truth is, males are currently in female sports, taking female trophies, and invading female safe spaces (like locker rooms and bathrooms). This is not a far away concept; it is happening right here in Maine.
Concerned parents have brought these issues to their school boards, but the Maine Principal’ Association and State Legislature have failed to act. It’s now time that we – as citizens of this great state – decide for ourselves what we want for our kids.
What will this act do?
The ‘Protect Girls’ Sports in Maine’ bill would require Maine schools and entities to designate athletic teams and private facilities (such as bathrooms and locker rooms) by sex: meaning, Male, Female, and Co-Ed. This bill will harmonize the Maine Human Rights Act with Federal Title IX, not change it. The bill means no one is discriminated against, everyone gets to play sports, and ensures requirements and protections for individuals with biologically-verifiable differences in sex development. The bill would have an effective date of January 1, 2027, allowing time for implementation after the 2026 election.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following answers are taken verbatim from the Maine Secretary of State’s approved summary.
What are the practical effects to Maine sports if this passes?
Maine Secretary of State: “The initiated bill requires public schools and entities that govern interscholastic or competitive sports by public schools to designate athletic teams as for males, for females or coeducational. Athletic teams designated for females must be restricted to students whose sex is female and athletic teams designated for males must be restricted to students whose sex is male. Athletic teams designated as coeducational must be open to all eligible females and males. A female student may participate on a team designated for males if no team designated for females is available in that sport.”
How is “sex defined by the initiative?
Maine Secretary of State: “’Sex’ is defined as a person’s biological status as male or female recorded at birth on the person’s original birth certificate.”
What about girl’s locker rooms and other accommodations?
Maine Secretary of State: “The initiated bill requires public schools to maintain separate restrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms and other private spaces for each sex. A member of one sex may not be permitted to use a facility designated for members of the opposite sex.”
How will the measure be enforced?
What about a person born with a biologically verifiable disorder or difference in sex development?
Maine Secretary of State: “The initiated bill provides that an individual born with a biologically verifiable disorder or difference in sex development must receive all legal protections and accommodations afforded under federal law, including the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.”
How does this comport with the Maine Human Rights Act?
Maine Secretary of State: “The initiated bill provides that separation of athletic teams and private spaces by sex under the initiated bill does not constitute unlawful discrimination under the Maine Human Rights Act and that the Maine Human Rights Act may not be construed to conflict with the provisions of the initiated bill.”
The following answers are from the Protect Girls Sports in Maine Ballot Question Committee.
What are the goals of Protect Girls Sports in Maine Committee?
We want every Maine student to have the opportunity to play sports, fairly and safely. Every student. That’s what our initiative does, by having school athletics designated male, female or co-ed.
Has this been an issue in Maine?
Yes. Multiple girls state championships have been won by boys playing on girls’ teams. Males have entered girls’ locker rooms, bathrooms and showers. That’s just wrong. There’s nothing fair and nothing safe with having bigger and stronger males stealing girls’ athletic opportunities. Every time a male steals a space on a girls team, a Maine girl’s dream is denied, and physical safety is jeopardized.
Won’t this deny athletic opportunities to some in Maine?
Every Maine student’s athletic opportunity will be protected, with a chance to play on a team designated for their sex at birth, or on a co-ed team.
Who’s behind this effort?
The Protect Girls’ Sports in Maine ballot question committee is an outgrowth from Maine Girl Dads, which has been advocating for the protection of girls sports both in Maine’s Legislature and school boards throughout the state for several years. When the Maine Legislature refused to pass protections for girls sports, it became obvious the Maine voters would need to act with a citizens initiative.
Is the initiative popular?
YES! Survey research shows voters overwhelmingly support our common-sense protections for our girls in Maine. And we’re confident once we’ve made the ballot, we’re going to win.