Activists Protest Trans Athlete Policy by Stripping at Maine School Board Meeting
Protesters Undress to Oppose Transgender Athlete Policy in Maine
During a Maine school board meeting, three activists removed their clothing down to their underwear as a form of protest against the district’s policy permitting transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports.
The demonstration, organized by local activist Nick Blanchard, took place in Augusta and involved two women and one man who slowly disrobed while Blanchard delivered an impassioned speech. He explained, “I’m about to show you how uncomfortable it is for girls,” as the activists removed their clothes.
Blanchard further commented, “You feel uncomfortable? Because that’s how these young girls feel when a boy enters their locker room and undresses in front of them. That’s how they feel every time a boy changes in front of them.” The act aimed to highlight concerns over trans inclusion in sports, with Blanchard criticizing the school board for not prioritizing girls’ safety and comfort.
The protest garnered mixed reactions from attendees; some school board members appeared outraged, while others looked away or remained unbothered. Blanchard stated that more than 150 people had reached out in support after the incident went viral locally. “The only way to get them to listen is by doing something outrageous and gaining national attention,” he said.
The Augusta school board opted to uphold its current policy, which aligns with the Maine Human Rights Act. This law allows students to participate in sports teams corresponding with their gender identity. The demonstration was part of broader protests following President Trump’s February executive order aimed at excluding biological men from women’s sports, which has incited protests in various states, including California and Maine.
In California, another protest saw a mother undress in a school board meeting to oppose transgender students’ access to girls’ locker rooms. Several districts have passed resolutions to support Trump’s executive order, intensifying the nationwide debate over transgender participation in sports.