The wording for Maine’s question on this fall’s ballot aimed at banning trans student athletes from participating in girls’ sports and limiting bathroom access has been released and is up for public review until May 7.
Reports the Bangor Daily News:
“Do you want to change civil rights and education laws to require public schools to restrict access to bathrooms and sports based on the gender on the child’s original birth certificate and allow students to sue the schools?” the ballot question will read, according to language released Tuesday by the Maine secretary of state’s office.
The secretary of state’s office will accept public comments about that wording through 5 p.m. on May 7. After a review, the language will be finalized by May 28.
If approved, the referendum would require public schools offering interscholastic or competitive sports to maintain separate male, female and coed teams, as well as separate locker rooms and bathrooms. Girls could perform on a boys team if no alternative exists.
The referendum, which qualified for the ballot last month, has support from prominent Republicans like U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, whose office confirmed last year that she signed a petition to get the referendum on the ballot, and megadonor Richard Uihlein, who bankrolled the referendum drive.
State law, specifically the Maine Human Rights Act, prohibits discrimination in education, employment, housing and more on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, ancestry or national origin.