Maine Governor blocks rules to protect trans students
The Governor of the US state of Maine is blocking rules to protect transgender students.
Governor Paul LePage is blocking the rules from the state’s Human Rights Commission and Department of Education, reports the Associated Press.
Schools will be given alternative guidelines, it is reported.
Democratic Representative Matthea Daughtry has said LePage will put transgender, and other teenagers at risk by blocking the rules.
Daughtry said a ruling from 2014, which saw transgender student Nicole Maines awarded $75,000 in damages, meant the new rules are required.
Nicole Maines sued her school aged 11, when she was banned from using the female toilets after the grandfather of a fellow pupil complained.
Nicole Maines successfully sued over the requirement for her to use a staff bathroom (Image: Twitter)
She had been using female toilets with no issue up to that point – but was instructed to use the staff toilets instead.
Her family sued the school district, and won their case in January. It was ruled that the school district violated the Maine Human Rights Act by not respecting her gender identity.
A spokesman for LePage, however, Adrienne Bennett, said the Governor has read the Maines lawsuit court decision.
Bennett said LePage believes the state’s Legislature is required to make a change before new rules are required.
However critics, including Daughtry, have said the court decision has been misinterpreted by LePage.
