Two Maine high school girls have spoken out against competing against transgender athletes, describing it as a source of "crushing disappointment" and announcing plans to file a federal civil rights complaint. Reagan Wilson, a junior at Fryeburg Academy, and Morgan Clark, a junior and varsity soccer captain at Windham High School, addressed a news conference Monday, seeking to protect female athletes' opportunities.
Their attorney announced that a Title IX complaint would be filed with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights on behalf of the girls. The draft complaint targets the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA), the South Portland School Department, and the Windham Raymond School District, seeking an investigation into current eligibility policies and remedies for alleged past violations.
Wilson stated that she has competed against transgender athletes across multiple seasons in sports including swimming, cross-country, track, soccer, and softball. "Most recently, I competed against a male playing on an all-girls soccer team," Wilson said, calling the situation "unacceptable" and one that deprives girls of equal opportunity.
Clark described how the issue has moved from an online concern to a personal experience on her soccer team. She pointed to an October tie against a team that had significantly improved from the previous season, attributing the draw to the presence of a male athlete on the opposing South Portland team. According to a draft complaint, this athlete scored 15 goals and had 10 assists through an Oct. 27 playoff game.
This legal action by the girls comes as a statewide ballot committee is making another attempt to put restrictions on transgender participation in sports before Maine voters. Leyland Streiff, principal officer of Protect Girls Sports in Maine, announced that the group is submitting additional signatures to qualify for the 2027 ballot. The proposed referendum would base sports eligibility, as well as access to facilities like locker rooms, on the sex recorded on a student's original birth certificate and would allow students to sue over violations.
Maine's policies on transgender participation have previously drawn federal scrutiny. In March, the Department of Education found Maine in violation of Title IX, and the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the state's education department in April over the issue.
State officials and the MPA have defended their approach by citing the Maine Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. The MPA's current policy permits transgender students to compete consistent with either their birth sex or gender identity, but not both.
In June, the Supreme Court upheld state-level restrictions on transgender participation in girls' and women's sports, though the ruling left unresolved the specific question of whether schools can permit transgender athletes on female teams. The girls expressed hope that their efforts would lead to fairer competition for female athletes in the future.