Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2025
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by Alan Jamison
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1 Comments
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The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a major victory for free speech and a significant blow to gender ideologues this week after it ruled in favor of allowing Maine Republican State Rep. Laurel Libby to vote in the legislature once again. Democrats previously revoked her ability to vote after she criticized allowing biological men to participate in women’s sports.
Only Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented in the 7-2 ruling. The majority did not provide reasoning for their decision. Libby had asked for an emergency decision from the Supreme Court in April after Democrats in Maine’s House voted along party lines 75-70 to censure her. The censure barred Libby from voting or speaking on the House floor until she apologized for calling out males invading female sports.
“The U.S. Supreme Court just restored the voice of 9,000 Mainers!” Libby posted on X. “After 2+ months of being silenced for speaking up for Maine girls, I can once again vote on behalf of the people of House District 90. This is a win for free speech — and for the Constitution.”
In a Facebook post on February 17, Libby criticized Maine’s schools for allowing biological men who identify as transgender to compete in women’s sports. Her post included images of a male student who had won a pole vault Maine State Class B Championship for girls.
Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau demanded that Libby take the Facebook post down the next day, but Libby refused. Fecteau claimed that Libby had violated one of the “long held political traditions” of “leaving kids out of it.” The speaker then led the House to censure Libby on February 25 in what she called blatant political retaliation.
Libby filed a lawsuit against Fecteau on March 11 in order to win back her voting rights. U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose ruled against Libby in the case on April 22. DuBose was notably appointed to her position by Joe Biden last year and is considered the first “LGBTQ judge” to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals then also ruled against Libby on April 28.
The Supreme Court’s ruling overturning both those lower court rulings has been celebrated as a victory for free expression. Chaya Raichik of the X account Libs of TikTok called the decision a “HUGE WIN for Free Speech.” Steve Forbes also chimed in on the decision’s significance.
“The Supreme Court restores sanity in Maine, allowing State Rep. @laurel_libby to speak, vote and represent her constituents,” he posted on X. “The Maine House Dem majority went way too far in censuring (and censoring) her.”
The Trump administration has targeted Maine in recent months for allowing biological men to participate in women’s sports. President Donald Trump called out Maine Governor Janet Mills in February for allowing this to continue. The Department of Education is now in the process of terminating Maine’s federal K-12 education funding over the issue.
Alan Jamison is the pen name of a political writer with extensive experience writing for several notable politicians and news outlets.
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