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Public commenters and North Yarmouth officials urge support for LGBTQ students as district responds to Title IX attention
Summary
Speakers at the March 6 RSU 51/MSAD 51 board meeting urged the district to protect LGBTQ students amid state and national attention to Title IX investigations; the board reiterated it will follow state law and stay in contact with Maine DOE and legal counsel.
Members of the public used the March 6 RSU 51/MSAD 51 board meeting’s public-comment period to press the district and community leaders to show support for LGBTQ students amid state- and national-level Title IX attention.
Board leadership opened public comment by acknowledging “a lot of attention about our district at both the state and national level, specifically as it relates to various Title IX investigations around student athletic participation,” and reaffirmed that the district will “continue to abide by the Maine Human Rights Act.” The board said it is working with its legal team and the Maine Department of Education and does not currently expect to change district policy or practice while those conversations continue.
Mike Perfetti, a resident who identified himself during public comment, said he supports following the law but asked the board to remember that laws can change and urged compassion in dealing with students. Perfetti cited national and cultural context for expanding notions of gender and said transgender students are a small share of athletes in recent years, arguing that “transgender athletes are in no way displacing female athletes, statistically speaking.”
Andrea Berry, chair of the North Yarmouth Select Board, read a statement from that board “in unwavering support of our LGBTQIA+ community members,” saying North Yarmouth will “do all we can to defend those rights” and cited the Maine Human Rights Act’s protections.
The board chair and district staff emphasized they are prioritizing students’ safety and continuity of learning while monitoring a “very fluid situation.” The board said it will follow established public-comment procedures (policy BEDH) and will not engage in debate during the public-comment period, though it will continue communications with counsel and the Maine DOE.
The district asked for public speakers to sign in; two people were registered for comment at the meeting. Board leadership thanked staff and students for handling the situation with “grace and professionalism” and acknowledged the additional stress on LGBTQ students.
The meeting’s public-comment portion closed after the speakers; later agenda items proceeded as scheduled, including a cybersecurity presentation and the FY2026 budget preview.
