Thank you for your editorial against anti-trans legislation in sport (Our View, March 30). Both L.D. 926 and L.D. 1401, sponsored by Rep. MaryAnne Kinney, further disenfranchise the trans community and have no real base in sport.

The primary sponsor of L.D. 926, Rep. Beth O’Connor, says it “protects” people like me: cisgender women. Having competed in college and internationally in skiing and rowing (sports that reward “male” characteristics), transgender athletes were never from whom I ever needed protection. If our legislators want to protect female athletes, then protect us from predatory coaches, unequal funding and cultural norms belittling our participation in sport. When the Women’s Sports Foundation released its equity grievances last year, transgender participation did not make the 99-page document. It is not a problem.

Trans women are not stealing scholarships or the top step of the podium. The NCAA and Maine Principals’ Association know this. Despite being eligible, no openly transgender woman has ever competed in the Olympics. Last year, Megan Youngren became the first to contend for a U.S. Olympic team in any sport. She finished 230th in the marathon trials – an accomplishment, absolutely, but not a threat to her cisgender peers.

Sport teaches confidence, how to handle failure and supports lifelong health. Sport is a human right. This legislation is not concerned with “saving” women’s athletics; rather, it is another attempt to deny the existence of transgender people by targeting girls as young as kindergartners.

If you truly care about the integrity of women’s sport, demand equal pay, celebrate our successes, give us prime time.

Susana Hancock
Freeport