State law, specifically the Maine Human Rights Act, prohibits discrimination in education, employment, housing and more on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, ancestry or national origin. The act was amended in 2019 to provide a more clear definition of gender identity and again in 2021 to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in education.
Compliance with Trump’s order would mean violating the state’s own laws. However, his executive order doesn’t have the force of law, legal experts say.
None of the 46 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in Virginia since 2022 have passed into law. And advocates in Georgia and Missouri defeated all 54 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced last year despite Republican majorities in both states.
In a proclamation marking the so-called National Child Abuse Prevention Month, former President Donald Trump described “gender ideology” as a major form of child abuse.
Trump expressed opposition to transgender youth receiving gender-affirming medical care such as hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgeries, arguing these measures harm children and families. He is aiming for a total erasure of trans kids.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a policy that recognizes only two biological sexes, male and female. USCIS clarified that sex will be determined by birth certificates issued at birth, with secondary evidence used if the certificate doesn’t specify male or female. The policy aims to harm transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals, making identity documentation inaccurate and increasing risks of discrimination, harassment, and violence.
When 20-year-old college student Marcy Rheintgen made her yearly spring break trip to her grandparents’ property in Florida, she said she felt at peace — until March 19, when police escorted her out of the bathroom of the State Capitol Building and placed her in handcuffs. Evidently, Rheintgen had violated a 2023 state law criminalizing trans people who use government-owned public restrooms that align with their gender.
This act of civil disobedience was planned. Rheintgen had previously notified lawmakers of her intentions, urging them to recognize the injustice of such legislation. Despite officers initially indicating they would issue a notice rather than arrest her, Rheintgen was detained, charged with trespassing, and spent 24 hours in jail.
One of the proposals, House Bill 1309, would make it illegal for health insurance companies to deny or limit coverage for gender-affirming care, when it is considered medically necessary by a patient’s doctor.
Photo: Lily Travis, 18, and Noah Masom, 17, both of northern Virginia, hug while attending a rally in support of people who are transgender during the Trans Day of Visibility, on the National Mall, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Washington. “I’m not the biggest protester, but I wanted to show my friends that their struggles are important,” says Masom, “they need to know that people are on their side.” LessJacquelyn Martin/AP
