I write in response to the inequity in girls’ sports in Maine. Women have had a very short-lived tenure in competitive sports, especially considering the first Olympics began in ancient Greece. During that short duration women have slowly earned seats on crews, time on the ice, placements in track and field, a turn at bat and sports funding at their respective schools and colleges. Through it all, they’ve proved themselves to be strong athletes in their own right, setting records, bringing home the gold, scoring winning goals.

Today, females face a new opponent — one having the physical advantage of a male and the outward appearance of a woman. There is no question that men have a physical advantage. Basic biology makes that advantage obvious.

Recently, my daughter faced the real possibility that she would compete against a male athlete in a track competition. This reality dashed her enthusiasm as, week after week, she worked hard to shave time off her record. A record that would be smashed in one afternoon because she faced a male who stood a foot taller than her and had the hardened muscles of a man at his peak. No one at the competition spoke up about the blatant inequity of this situation. Like the fabled naked emperor, we villagers had to pretend that this boy was a girl and this race was fair.

No one spoke up for those girls — until now. Rep. Laurel Libby has taken up the cause of our girls and I, for one, am damn glad she has.

Mary Fallon
Durham