Maine Rep. Laurel Libby (R) regained her full speaking and voting rights Wednesday after being censured by state Democrats for publicly criticizing the inclusion of a transgender-identifying male in a girls’ high school sports competition. Her reinstatement came five months after Democrats stripped her floor privileges for refusing to apologize for a social media post naming the athlete.
Libby had faced a 75-70 censure vote in February and was barred from speaking on the House floor unless she issued a formal apology—a condition she flatly rejected. Instead, she filed a lawsuit against Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court granted her emergency request, allowing her to resume floor participation while the case moves through the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
Libby told Fox News Digital she was unaware her rights would be restored until just before adjournment. House Assistant Majority Leader Lori Gramlich introduced the resolution to reinstate Libby’s privileges, which passed overwhelmingly in a 115-16 vote.
Libby framed the reversal as a political calculation. “They know they’re losing on that issue… and this is the best way for them to save face,” she said, pointing to broad public opposition to allowing biological males in girls’ sports.
The controversy followed a high-profile incident in February when a transgender-identifying male won the Maine Class B girls’ pole vault title. Libby’s post highlighting the case triggered the backlash from Democrats who claimed she violated decorum. Meanwhile, Maine officials have openly defied President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports,” which aims to safeguard the integrity and safety of female athletics by withholding federal funds from non-compliant education programs.
Federal investigations and a Justice Department lawsuit have followed as the Biden-aligned Maine government continues to enforce policies allowing students to compete based on gender identity, rather than biological sex.
Libby has received growing support from school districts and constituents, with several local resolutions passed to protect girls’ sports. Protests have also taken place in the state capital of Augusta, signaling rising grassroots frustration.
