A group seeking to restrict transgender students' participation in school sports and access to facilities is making a second attempt to put its citizen initiative before Maine voters.

Protect Girls Sports in Maine resubmitted petition signatures Monday in Augusta, hoping to qualify its proposed referendum for the 2027 ballot.

"Our democracy will not be stopped," said Leyland Streiff, the group's principal officer.

The proposed measure would require public school students to compete on sports teams and use bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with the sex listed on their original birth certificates.

Few people outside of Maine probably knew much about Troy Jackson’s LGBTQ+ legislative record until earlier this year, when he joined the state’s US Senate race after Democratic candidate Graham Platner dropped out.

While Jackson started his political career as a Republican (and once voted against marriage equality), he has since formed a strong record of opposing anti-LGBTQ+ bills in his state’s legislature and has spoken out for queer equality and trans rights on the campaign. A closer look at his words and actions suggests that he’ll be a strong ally for our civil rights.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) was heckled at Maine’s Fryeburg Fair by a protester who invoked her recent debate, shouting, “You can’t eat road salt, can you?!”