Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby defended her stance on transgender athletes in girls sports Tuesday night at an event that drew crowds of supporters and protesters to the Mt. Ararat Middle School Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham.

Libby spoke about free speech issues and about the controversy surrounding her social media post of a photo of a transgender athlete and subsequent censure in the state House of Representatives that had prevented her from participating in floor debates and voting on legislation.

She also said she is actively exploring a run for governor in 2026. She would be joining a crowded field of candidates vying for a chance to replace Gov. Janet Mills, who can’t run again due to term limits.

Billed as “standing strong for girls’ sports and free speech” and hosted by the Cumberland County Republican Committee, news of the event was met with controversy on social media, as some questioned the district allowing a political organization to rent out the space.

Libby, a state lawmaker from Auburn known for her public opposition to transgender athletes’ participation in girls sports, was censured in the Maine Legislature after the social media post in February. The U.S. Supreme Court restored her right to vote on legislation after she filed a lawsuit in May.

Libby took the stage Tuesday night to a standing ovation at the Orion Center and gave a speech spanning free speech, opposing mask requirements in the State House during COVID-19 and her censure following her controversial social media post and statements about transgender athletes.

“I spoke the truth and I chose not to back down, and, of course, Speaker Fecteau and the Democrat majority censured me,” Libby said.

Outside the event, a group of more than 100 protestors had gathered, holding signs with phrases like, “Trans rights are human rights” and “Maine protects kids.”

Allison Bouchard, of Bowdoin, was one of the protest organizers.

“Laurel Libby has been promoting hate and bigotry and misinformation and that leads to violence … it’s not a good look for our area,” said Bouchard, a Mt. Ararat alumni. “It’s not really a matter of where you stand on the political spectrum; it’s about protecting kids.”

Adele Long, of Raymond, said she came to the event with her husband because “we love Laurel” — adding that she supports Libby’s stances on education and transgender athletes.

“She says what she thinks,” Long said.

Titled “Justice and Jazz,” the event featured the State Street Traditional Jazz Band. The Republican committee collected donations at the door. The Topsham Police Department and Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office were on-site.

DEBATING THE EVENT

Over the past few weeks, community members have raised concerns about the “Justice and Jazz” night being held at OPAC, a facility owned by the school district, due to Libby’s track record of criticizing trans students.

In recent emails and comments to the district, some community members said such an event may violate Maine School Administrative District 75 policies that protect against discrimination and called for its cancellation. Posts about the event on social media drew both outrage and support, with some Facebook and Reddit commenters questioning the use of the facility for political purposes and others saying they planned on protesting.

Mt. Ararat alumni Zach Labbay, of Durham, said in a letter to the school that the event “is targeting trans students and athletes, promoting hateful and bigoted rhetoric that has been demonstrably harmful to specific athletes in Maine, and in particular LGBTQ students as a whole.”

“When I saw this was coming up, I thought, ‘That’s no good, coming to my high school and raising money using Laurel Libby and trans kids,'” Labbay told The Times Record prior to the event.

SAD 75 and its school board responded to the public input with a series of public statements.

Superintendent Heidi O’Leary said in a letter to parents earlier this month that groups and individuals unaffiliated with the district often rent the facility, which does not constitute an endorsement by the district. The letter pointed to district policy, which states “the district will not deny access [to OPAC] to any organization because of the religious or political nature of the organization.”

And in a statement approved by the school board last week, leadership echoed that OPAC is open for public use and reiterated their support for transgender students.

“We have been advised that the District would risk violating the free speech rights of the organizers if we were to deny them access,” the July 10 school board letter reads.

The school board statement went on to name SAD 75’s Transgender and Gender Expansive Students Policy, which requires the district to recognize students’ gender identities and allows students to use names, pronouns and facilities that align with their gender identity.

Cumberland County Republican Committee Chairperson Chuck Ellis said in a statement earlier this month that “public spaces like OPAC should promote open discourse, not suppress voices over differing views.”

“Those complaining are not complaining because it’s a political event. I am sure like in my town of Westbrook they would have been happy to host Chellie Pingree’s town hall. They’re complaining because of the nature of the politics. The core issue here across the board is free speech and the fact that many want to silence those they disagree with,” Ellis wrote in an email to The Times Record.

“The event will address critical issues: protecting girls’ sports and spaces, and House Speaker Ryan Fecteau’s unconstitutional disenfranchisement of voters in Representative Libby’s Androscoggin County district. These set precedents that could affect all of Maine, threatening our democratic republic. OPAC was chosen for its quality and its location as these topics resonate statewide,” he said.

FREE SPEECH

The Cumberland County Republican Committee thanked the school district for its response and for allowing it to use the facility at the event Tuesday night.

“There’s a lot of people outside who don’t want us to be here, who don’t want us to be allowed to speak, and what’s beautiful is that free speech does continue to exist in America,” Ellis said Tuesday night to the audience’s applause.

Student and parent speakers opened the event, saying that allowing trans students in women’s sports is unfair and contrary to women’s rights.

“I, along with many other young women, refuse to stay silent, because this isn’t just about competition,” said Julia Deitrick, a Lincoln Academy student who has been vocal on the issue. “It’s about protecting the integrity of women’s sports and ensuring that every girl who trains, sacrifices and dedicates herself to her sport gets the opportunities that she deserves.”

Outside, protestors said they want to see schools protect all students, including transgender athletes.

“It’s really important to show up, because this is targeted at children,” said protestor Stephanie Sersich, of Topsham, whose sign read “Love all the children.”

Katherine Wilson, at-large member of the Brunswick Town Council, was present at the protest. Wilson called Libby’s exposure of a transgender high school student on social media “wrong.”

Libby acknowledged the protestors, saying they have a right to free speech, but said they intended to “intimidate” and “bully” conservatives.

“There are protestors outside this event tonight and I absolutely, 100% support their First Amendment right to assemble and speak peacefully and lawfully,” Libby said.

Libby encouraged Maine conservatives to speak up during her speech, calling for “transparency, accountability and debate.”

“We’re allowing [Democrats] to control the narratives enough times that they feel comfortable gagging a member of the House of Representatives,” Libby said.