The Regional School Unit 24 school board in Sullivan, Maine, voted this week to maintain a policy that restricts bathroom access and athletic participation to students’ biological sex, reaffirming a decision originally made in October. The board’s vote came despite a pending lawsuit from the Maine Human Rights Commission challenging similar policies in several districts as discriminatory under state law.
About 100 community members attended the meeting, where public comment was split between supporters who want to enforce sex-based policies and opponents who argue the policy harms transgender students. The board also approved hiring legal counsel to defend the district in the state’s lawsuit.
Superintendent Michael Eastman said the board will review related policies in January to assess the broader implications of the decision. The reaffirmed policy aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which directs schools to base sports team eligibility on biological sex.
RSU 24 is one of several Maine districts facing legal pressure for enacting these restrictions, and the Maine Human Rights Commission has filed actions against multiple school boards for policies that bar transgender students from bathrooms, locker rooms, and athletic teams consistent with their gender identity.
Supporters of the policy argue it protects sex-based rights for girls and women in schools, while opponents warn the approach creates hostile environments for gender-nonconforming students and may violate existing state anti-discrimination law. The outcome of this legal and policy battle may influence similar debates nationwide. This decision is expected to intensify legal scrutiny and statewide policy debate.
