Maine official steps down from college board function after transgender feedback

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A Kennebunk, Maine, city official has stepped down from her liaison function with the native college board after going through backlash for suggesting that critics of a transgender athlete coverage have "pedophilic tendencies."

Vice Chair Leslie Trentalange, who serves on the Kennebunk Choose Board, made the feedback throughout an Oct. 20 Regional Faculty Unit(RSU) 21 assembly that centered on the district’s transgender-student athlete coverage. The coverage, in keeping with state regulation, permits college students to hitch sports activities groups and use services matching their gender id.

Dad and mom and neighborhood members throughout Maine have protested comparable insurance policies, arguing they violate Title IX protections.

Trentalange, who stated she was talking as a "involved neighborhood member," informed the board that "the bulk on this district is aware of that each one college students are welcome." She went on to say that opponents of the transgender coverage have "creepy obsessions" and have "made hate their solely pastime."

A Maine city Choose Board member and college board liaison scolded critics of the district's transgender coverage. (Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday RM through Getty Photographs)

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She added that "their obsession with what's sitting in between the non-public components of our college students is nothing lower than creepy and will completely be elevating eyebrows in and round our college district."

"Their obsession with genitalia factors to not caring for the scholars on this district, however maybe towards an underlying guilt for their very own pedophilic tendencies," she continued. "There's a registry for that."

Her remarks drew gasps from these in attendance and a fast response from RSU 21 Faculty Board Chair Matthew Stratford, who known as her feedback "inappropriate."

"I don’t suppose that was inappropriate, and I stand by my feedback," Trentalange responded.

Transgender athlete supporters maintain up indicators as an overflow crowd converges outdoors the Riverside Unified Faculty District assembly, Dec. 19, 2024. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Instances through Getty Photographs)

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Her remarks sparked backlash from some locally, prompting letters to the Kennebunk Choose Board and requires accountability on social media.

At an Oct. 28 Choose Board assembly, John Salamone, a Republican candidate for Maine Senate District 31, accused Trentalange of violating the city’s code of conduct and urged her censure.

"When an elected official makes use of her platform to publicly slander residents, she undermines the integrity of this board and erodes public belief in native authorities," Salamone stated. He known as for her elimination as liaison to RSU 21 and for a public apology.

Some residents echoed his criticism, whereas others argued that Trentalange’s feedback have been protected below state regulation and the First Modification. Former RSU 21 Board member Lesley Stoeffler stated, "Ms. Trentalange doesn't owe anybody an apology."

Different residents and board members, talking as non-public residents, defended her proper to free speech.

Leslie Trentalange refused to apologize for remarks at college board assembly about transgender athlete coverage critics. (City of Kennebunk Choose Board Assembly Screenshot/ANDREJ IVANOV/AFP through Getty Photographs)

"Vote them out, that's how democracy works," Karen Plattes stated in response to requires punitive motion. "Stifling free speech shouldn't be the way in which. And that doesn’t matter what facet you might be on."

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"I personally really feel that Leslie had 100% the correct and the liberty of speech to say what she feels about any subject, similar to any of us do, and I'll all the time assist my fellow board members," Kortney Nedeau stated. "I simply know that as an elected official, for me, it's an moral determination to by no means cross that line."

Throughout the identical assembly, Trentalange acknowledged that her remarks might have "pushed some boundaries" however stood by them. She declined to apologize to these she criticized and as a substitute expressed remorse towards the "queer neighborhood."

"If there are of us within the marginalized, queer neighborhood who really feel my message didn't serve them or harm them in any method, it's that which I remorse," she stated. "I do additionally remorse any undue or undeserved backlash different members of the Choose Board or city employees have felt over my feedback as a person."

Trentalange stated she would step down as liaison to the varsity board to keep away from any "confusion" over her function with the varsity district when attending conferences. She stays vice chair of the Kennebunk Choose Board.

President Donald Trump indicators an government order barring transgender feminine athletes from competing in girls's or women' sporting occasions, within the East Room of the White Home, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Picture/Alex Brandon)

RSU 21, Trentalange, and the Choose Board didn't return Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.

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In an Oct. 27 assertion posted to Fb, Stratford stated the district’s transgender coverage complies with the Maine Human Rights Act and won't be revisited this college 12 months. He urged civility at future conferences and reminded residents that there's "no place for harassment, discriminatory language, or disrespectful phrases" throughout public remark.