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Exclusive | Maine rep banned for posting about trans athlete slams state’s woke leaders, sues over free speech violation

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Exclusive | Maine rep banned for posting about trans athlete slams state’s woke leaders, sues over free speech violation


A Maine state legislator posted about trans athletes in women’s sports on her Facebook page — then got banned from speaking or voting on the State House floor.

Now she’s suing the House speaker for violating her First Amendment rights.

“It was a bad move politically for the Democrat majority to censure me for speaking up for Maine girls and their right to a fair, safe, and level playing field, especially because 80% of Americans feel as I do,” Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Minot) told The Post.

Laurel Libby says her constituents have been disenfranchised by her censure. AP

It all started on February 17 when Libby, a Republican from Maine’s 64th District,  posted a photo of a Maine high school transgender pole vaulter standing on the first-place step of a state championship podium.

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“We’ve learned that just *ONE* year ago John was competing in boy’s pole vault… that’s when he had his 5th place finish,” Libby wrote on her Facebook page. ”Tonight, ‘Katie’ won 1st place in the girls’ Maine State Class B Championship.”

The athlete’s first-place win shot their school’s team to a championship win by a single point.

“I comment about a wide variety of current issues here in Maine, so I did not expect a big issue about it,” Libby said of the post.

“It was a public photo from a public event that an individual chose freely to participate in and step up on a podium during.”

Laurel Libby’s Facebook post drew ire from her Democratic colleagues. Representative Laurel Libby / Facebook

The Democratic House speaker and majority leader in Maine quickly caught wind of the post and demanded she take it down. When she refused, they introduced a motion to censure her, citing the fact that the photographed individual is a minor.

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The resolution, which bars her from speaking on the House floor or voting on legislation until she apologizes, passed along partisan lines in a 75-70 vote.

Libby is banned from speaking or voting on the State House floor until she apologizes for her post. AFP via Getty Images

“We’re getting into really dangerous territory, because speech is not free when a simple majority can silence a member of the minority party,” Libby said.

Her lawsuit alleges the Democratic majority violated Libby’s constitutional rights because the Facebook post is protected by the First Amendment. Free-speech attorney Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, agrees.

“Stripping an elected representative of her right to speak and vote for refusing to delete a lawful Facebook post is a blatant violation of free speech and the First Amendment,” Lukianoff told The Post.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills sparred with President Trump at the White House over transgender athletes. Getty Images

“The Constitution doesn’t grant lawmakers the power to muzzle colleagues for making arguments on one of the hottest topics of the day in a way that they don’t like.”

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The debacle helped ignite a contentious exchange between Maine Gov. Janet Mills and President Trump over transgender athletes in the White House last week. 

The administration has cut funding to Maine public universities, as the state continues to defy Trump’s executive order to keep trans athletes out of women’s sports, accusing the state of failure to comply with Title IX.

President Trump signed an executive order barring transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. AP

 Meanwhile, Libby says her censure harms the voters who elected her to represent them.

“It’s a silencing of my constituents, and it says your vote doesn’t matter, your voice doesn’t matter, and we don’t think that you deserve representation in the State House,” she said.

She also thinks “100%” the move will cause her colleagues to self-censor for fear of the same retribution.

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Laurel Libby alleges her constitutional rights have been violated by her colleagues who censured her. AP

“If it’s so easy to silence someone who you disagree with on policy, that absolutely shuts down policy debate, because there’s a danger that you can lose your voice and your vote simply by expressing a different opinion,” the lawmaker said.

In a further shock, on Wednesday, all of Maine’s federal judges recused themselves from the case, sending it to the District of Rhode Island. Libby declined to comment about that development.

The defendants have 21 days to respond to Libby’s suit.

Rep. Libby insists that her post was intended to stand up for women and girls. AP

As she awaits their response, she worries what Maine girls will make of the Democrats’ move to silence her.

“It’s a terrible message to send to our young women,” she said. “Our female athletes are already having to compete against biological males, and now they’re being told by this censuring action not to even speak up about it — to sit down and shut up, essentially.”

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Rage Room in Portland, Maine, Developing ‘Scream Room’ Addition

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Rage Room in Portland, Maine, Developing ‘Scream Room’ Addition


For a lot of people throughout Maine, there’s some built up frustration that they’ve just been keeping inside.

That frustration can come in a lot of different forms. From finances to relationships to the world around you.

So it makes plenty of sense that a rage room opened in Portland, Maine, where people can let some of that frustration out.

It’s called Mayhem and people have been piling in to smash, crush and do dastardly things to inanimate objects that had no idea what was coming.

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But Mayhem has realized not everyone is down with swinging a sledgehammer. So they’ve decided to cook up something new.

Mayhem Creating ‘Scream Room’ at Their Space in Portland, Maine

Perhaps the thought of swinging a baseball bat and destroying a glass vase brings you joy. The thought of how sore your body will be after that moment makes you less excited.

Mayhem Portland has heard you loud and clear and is developing a new way to get the rage out. By just screaming.

Mayhem is working on opening their very first scream room. It’s exactly what you think it is, a safe place to spend some time just screaming all of the frustration out.

There isn’t an official opening date set yet but it’s coming soon along with pricing.

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Mayhem in Portland, Maine, Will Still Offer Rage Rooms and Paint Splatter

While a scream room is on the way, you can still experience a good time at Mayhem with one of their rage rooms or a paint splatter room.

Both can be experienced in either 20-minute or 30-minute sessions.

All the details including some age and attire requirements can be found here.

TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Things to do in Portland, Maine

Looking for fun things to do in Portland, ME? Here is what the reviewers on TripAdvisor say are the 10 best attractions.

This list was updated in March of 2026

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Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka

Top 15 of The Most Powerful People in Maine

Ever wonder who the most powerful players are in Maine? I’ve got a list!

Gallery Credit: Getty Images





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Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money

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Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money


BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – If you’ve ever wondered what goes into pitching a good business idea, you might want to stop by a Big Gig event.

The Big Gig Entrepreneurship Pitch Off brings professionals from across the state together to network and pitch their early-stage business ideas for a chance to win $500.

Tuesday’s competition was held at the Salty Brick Market in Bangor, and it drew a lot of spectators.

“The winners of each semifinal event get $500 and the opportunity to compete for $5,000, so that can make a huge impact on a business that’s just getting off the ground,” said Renee Kelly, a Big Gig organizer.

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The winner of the competition, Colin McGuire, was also grateful for the opportunity to showcase his idea “Art on Tap,” which would connect local artists with local venues trying to put on events.

“The support tonight is huge, and it’s just giving me more enthusiasm for running with the idea,” he said.

The season finale of the competition will be held May 19th.

The location is yet to be determined.

If you’d like to apply to compete in the contest, you can go to biggig.org.

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This Monster Burrito Challenge in Waterville, Maine, Is Not for the Weak

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This Monster Burrito Challenge in Waterville, Maine, Is Not for the Weak


Are you up for a Maine food challenge, or are your eyes bigger than your stomach?

A Waterville staple, Buen Apetito has a monster burrito just waiting for someone to eat it down to the very last bite.

This thing is a beast, literally called La Bestia, and it’s definitely a mighty task for a fearless foodie.

Take on the Buen Apetito La Bestia Food Challenge in Waterville, Maine

According to Buen Apetito, if you can finish a super-sized burrito in 30 minutes or less, you’ll get the $60 meal for free, a La Bestia champion shirt, and a picture on the wall of fame. That’s not to mention the bragging rights of dominating a task few will be able to conquer.

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Wondering what’s in the burrito?

The Mexican restaurant shared in a Facebook comment on a post that the burrito is filled with “grilled chicken, chorizo, and tender shredded beef or pork. Built on a layer of seasoned rice, refried beans, and French fries, it’s melted together with a shredded Mexican cheese blend and a drizzle of creamy cheese sauce, sautéed peppers and onions, green salsa, pico de gallo, sour cream, creamy guacamole, and a bed of shredded lettuce all wrapped in three extra-large tortillas fused into one epic wrap.”

Let’s just say that this thing is packed full.

The first La Bestia contender took up his fork and knife in December 2025, but despite coming close, he couldn’t come out with the win.

As of March 2026, the challenge has remained undefeated. But you never know, someone is bound to come out victorious.

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Just note that you can only try your hand at this food challenge on Wednesday and Thursday.

Buen Apetito Has Been a Longstanding Waterville, Maine, Restaurant

First opened in 1999, Buen Apeitito has been around for nearly 30 years.

Centralmaine.com reported that the Mexican restaurant was originally located at the Railroad Square complex off Chaplin Street before moving to 99 West River Road in 2023.

A little over a year later, in 2024, Buen Apetito shared on Facebook that it was passing on the torch to new owners, including Dalia, “the heart and soul of [the] kitchen for twenty years,” her daughter, Norma, and Norma’s husband, Shawn.

READ MORE: Famous Maine Restaurant Buen Apetito Adds Powerhouse New Owner to Crew

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And it seems like not only are things still going strong, but new additions like La Bestia food challenge are only enhancing the spirit of big flavor and delicious Mexican food at the Waterville staple.

So, you think you’re up for the task of taking down a beast of a burrito at Buen Apetito? Good luck.

You Know You’re From Maine If You’ve Tried All 19 of These Foods

Here’s a number of foods associated with Maine. How many of them have you had?

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

The New York Time’s Best Restaurant Lists Feature These 7 Maine Spots

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

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