# Maine Governor spars with Trump **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [February 22, 2025, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666 "2025-02-22T12:35:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/21 "2025-02-22T21:17:09Z")
FTR, our house has a gender-neutral bathroom. And we’re _not_ changing it! ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2025, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/22 "2025-02-22T21:27:19Z")
It’s worse than that, the actual line is ‘well, I am…we are the federal law.’ ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2025, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/23 "2025-02-22T23:25:53Z")
> The flurry of activity thrust the state into the national spotlight and reignited debates over the politically fraught issue of transgender children competing in girls’ sports. Around 3.5 percent of Maine high school students have reported they are transgender. There is no clear data available on how many compete in scholastic sports, but there are likely few. [**SOURCE**](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/02/22/politics/state-politics/maine-transgender-athlete-policies-ignited-war-with-donald-trump-joam40zk0w/) “The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must” –The Melian Dialogue by Thucydides ETA: another data point > As of 2019, the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey found that 1.6% of Maine high school students identified as transgender. Nationally, that number is 3.3%. Of that about 3% less than half of those students participate in high school sports at 40.7%. [**SOURCE**](https://www.wmtw.com/article/maine-lawmaker-highlights-transgender-track-and-field-athlete/63845602) Tripping over dollars to pick up dimes/satiate sadistic bigots. Lovely. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/24 "2025-02-23T01:12:47Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Where in the Constitution is Congress given that power? Where SCOTUS says it is. Maybe Equal Protection. Remember that SCOTUS can rewrite, oh sorry _interpret_ the Constitution to mean what they want. Say in _Kelo_ where SCOTUS decided that under eminent domain “public use” meant giving land to a private corporation that would pay more in taxes and have more jobs. Pretty much everyone else said, “I do not believe that phrase means what you think it means.” Where in the Constitution can the Federal government require health care? Apparently in the Tax and Spend Clause. Abortion was constitutional (until recently) despite not being mentioned in the Constitution because Right to Privacy. And so on. If we went back and declared all laws that do not fall under the enumerated powers in Article I, 90% of the laws would be unconstitutional. It is an exercise for the reader if that’s a good or a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/25 "2025-02-23T01:17:52Z")
And of course there’s now a compliance investigation into the University of Maine regarding this issue. The investigation is being conducted by the Department of Agriculture. > “President Trump has made it abundantly clear: taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars will not support institutions that discriminate against women,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital Saturday. > > “USDA is committed to upholding the president’s executive order, meaning any institution that chooses to disregard it can count on losing future funding.” > > The University of Maine receives more than $100 million in USDA funding, according to the USDA. [USDA launches review at University of Maine over transgender sports policy after Trump-Gov. Mills blowup](https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/usda-launches-review-at-university-of-maine-over-transgender-sports-policy-after-trump-gov-mills-blowup/ar-AA1zAsJD?ocid=BingNewsSerp) ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/26 "2025-02-23T01:22:31Z")
Senator Collins is, ‘concerned’. Her brow is, ‘furrowed’. Any moment now, I expect her to utter a firm, ‘Tut-tut.’ ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/27 "2025-02-23T01:26:58Z")
[![](https://memes.memedrop.io/production/Zw05oyLo8XR2/source.gif) ](https://memes.memedrop.io/production/Zw05oyLo8XR2/source.gif) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/28 "2025-02-23T04:14:09Z")
I wish people would stop talking about her face. The doctors did the best they could but they’re not miracle workers. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/29 "2025-02-23T04:29:16Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > For now. I assume the Supremacy Clause also applies to Executive Orders. The point is that there is no federal law regarding this issue. There is a federal policy and an executive order saying that states that violate that policy will lose funding. But that isn’t a law. If Gov. Mills bans transgendered women from womans sports she is violating state law. If she doesn’t, she isn’t violating any law but will be subject to the federal policy of losing her funding. But that is still better than taking an illegal act. Now congress could pass a law prohibiting trans women from competing in sports and they could probably get it by the supreme court by making some vague claim about protecting women’s rights under equal protection. In that case she would have to comply under the supremacy clause. But congress hasn’t done it yet so her only legal choice is clear. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/30 "2025-02-23T04:42:14Z")
If it gets any more furrowed, it’ll look like the Grand Canyon. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/31 "2025-02-23T05:46:16Z")
On the video I saw I couldn’t see her face on camera, just hear her voice. I went to look her up, hoping she was not more than middle aged, because who knows? She could rise. But she’s seventy seven. At that age though her career has reached the top, so she might as well face Chump down. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/32 "2025-02-23T11:33:42Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > She (and her government) don’t really have a choice; Maine state law prohibits gender discrimination, and federal law does not supersede it. Are you referring to the Maine Human Rights Act? Because according to the [state Human Rights Commission](https://www.maine.gov/mhrc/laws-guidance/employment/guarantees), the prohibition is on discrimination based on sex, not gender, and under the circumstances that is a fairly relevant distinction. Or is there another relevant law? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/33 "2025-02-23T15:33:42Z")
> The law provides protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation which is defined as “… a person’s actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality or gender identity or expression” (5 Me. Rev. Stat. sec. 4553 (9-C)). [**SOURCE**](https://www.glad.org/issues/discrimination-transgender-rights-maine/) > 5-C. Gender identity. “Gender identity” means the gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual’s assigned sex at birth. [**SOURCE**](https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/5/title5sec4553.html) ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/34 "2025-02-23T18:48:55Z")
“And enjoy your life after governor because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics." _“I won’t always be governor, but you’ll always be… X”_ Her esprit d’escalier entirety understandable, given the many possibilities for X. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/35 "2025-02-23T18:59:30Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > “I’m complying with state and federal laws," Mills replied. The fact Trumpists are angry at someone for saying “I will obey the law” pretty much ends the discussion, doesn’t it? What other observation is there to make, what point to be explained? There you have it, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/36 "2025-02-23T19:29:01Z")
Goodby blue states [https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/s/h7zY73yHel](https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/s/h7zY73yHel) So hopes Trump ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/37 "2025-02-23T20:49:33Z")
I’m thinking he means the votes from blue states will no longer count in elections for some reason they will make up. I’ve said something similar elsewhere but I anticipate we will see something like that attempted in the ‘26 midterms. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/38 "2025-02-23T21:12:01Z")
Can someone summarize the content of this link? I don’t want to download a Reddit app to read it ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666/39 "2025-02-24T08:27:23Z")
From that link, it seems like Maine law has implemented “gender identity or expression” as a totally different attribute of a person to their sex, rather than trying to make sex mean both physical sex and gender identity at the same time. Which is sensible (though not the way every jurisdiction does it, I believe). Given that, there seems no reason why Maine law should preclude female sport having only female people in it, or male sport having only male people in it [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-governor-spars-with-trump/1014666.md?page=1)