Maine lawmaker who called out transgender athlete has speaking privileges restored

Maine Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, had her speaking rights restored on Wednesday after being censured for four months over a social media post where she identified a transgender athlete competing in girls’ sports.

It comes after a long political battle in which Libby challenged the Maine House’s censure through legal action. 

The U.S. Supreme Court reinstated Libby’s voting rights on May 20. However, lawmakers withheld her ability to speak on the House floor until a resolution passed Wednesday, finally restoring her full privileges. It passed overwhelmingly by a 115-16 vote, proposed just minutes before adjournment by House Assistant Majority Leader Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach. 

“It was a surprise, it was our 33rd supplement of the day, and within minutes it was on the floor,” Libby told Fox News.  

The Democrat-controlled Maine House of Representatives voted 75-70 on Feb. 25 to censure Libby after Democrats accused her of violating House rules for naming a transgender minor athlete. 

The athlete, Greely High student Katie Spencer, had recently won a girls’ pole-vaulting state title and a team state championship. 

Libby and her legal team contested the reason for the censure, arguing the athlete had already been publicly identified in multiple media reports. 

The vote stripped Libby of her voting and speaking privileges unless she apologized. However, she refused to apologize and took legal action, escalating the case to the Supreme Court. 

“Democrats know that they are losing on this issue, that the majority of not just Mainers, but Americans, do not agree with their extreme stance allowing biological males to participate in girls’ sports,” Libby said. “They know they’re losing on that issue, they know that they’re losing in the courts regarding my lawsuit that I filed… and so they caved because they know they’re losing and this is the best way for them to save face.” 

The Maine House narrowly passed legislation banning transgender-identifying athletes from competing in girls’ interscholastic sports. Several Democrats voted with Republicans to pass the measure. However, the Democrat-controlled Senate killed the proposal.  

A March 2025 University of New Hampshire poll found 64% of Mainers oppose male transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports, while only 29% support it.