Maine lawmaker posts photo of transgender student on podium for girls sport

A Maine lawmaker is getting both praise and criticism for posting a photo that she says shows a transgender student on the podium for a girls sport. (WGME/Facebook)

PORTLAND (WGME) — A Maine lawmaker is getting both praise and criticism for posting a photo that she says shows a transgender student on the podium for a girls sport.

Republican Representative Laurel Libby of Auburn posted a photo on Facebook this week of a student, unblurred, who she named.

She also called the student athlete “unremarkable” in boys sports.

Libby says the student placed fifth in a boys pole vault event two years ago but placed first in a girls championship event this week.

Libby’s post has already received thousands of shares and tens of thousands of comments, some calling the situation “unfair” to girls.

Others called out Libby for naming the student and sharing their face.

Libby appeared on Fox News this week to talk about the situation and her post.

She pointed to a New York Times/Ipsos poll that showed 79 percent of Americans don’t think people born as male should play female sports.

“Mainers are independent-minded and common sensical and this defies common sense,” Libby said.

House Speaker Ryan Fecteau gave a statement to the Press Herald, saying, “All kids, including transgender students, deserve better than to be used as political fodder for internet bullies. They shouldn’t have to worry about a politician sharing images of them online without their consent.”

CBS13 reached out to Libby for comment Thursday and has not heard back.

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She posted about the situation again Thursday and has not taken her previous post down.