Federal Watchdog: Maine Breached Title IX by Permitting Male Participation in Women’s Sports
Title IX forbids discrimination based on sex in any educational program or activity that receives federal funding.
The Maine Department of Education is accused of discriminating against females by permitting males to compete in their sports events, as per a review by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Permitting men to compete in women’s sports events is deemed “demeaning, unjust, and detrimental to women and girls, and denies them equal opportunities to partake and succeed in competitive sports,” it adds.
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This presidential action also safeguards female athletes from educational institution policies that may require them to “appear unclothed before males” during sports events.
OCR has contacted the respective entities, requesting that they settle the issue within 10 days by entering into agreements with the agency. Noncompliance could lead to these entities being referred to the U.S. Department of Justice “for appropriate action,” indicating possible enforcement in federal court.
“The Maine Department of Education cannot evade its obligations under Federal law by transferring control of its extracurricular activities, programs, and services to the Maine Principals’ Association,” stated Anthony Archeval, acting director of OCR.
The agency anticipates that the involved entities “will collaborate with us to reach an agreement that reinstates fairness in women’s sports,” Archeval remarked.
The Epoch Times has reached out to the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals’ Association, and Greely High School for their comments.
On February 21, Maine Governor Janet Mills stated that the state “will not be intimidated by the President’s threats.” If federal funding is withdrawn, her administration and the attorney general “will take all necessary legal measures to restore that funding,” she asserted.
The U.S. Department of Education had previously mentioned that state law cannot supersede federal anti-discrimination laws and confirmed the Maine Department of Education’s compliance with Title IX regulations.
“Let me be clear: If Maine wishes to continue receiving federal funds from the Education Department, it must adhere to Title IX,” Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the Education Department, noted at the time.
The investigation was prompted after a 15-year-old female athlete from the district reported facing “sex discrimination and retaliation for voicing concerns against males in female sports.”
The updated policy restricts participation in women’s categories to “student-athletes assigned female at birth.”
