Maine High School Athlete Challenges Governor Over Trans-Athlete Policies

Cassidy Carlisle, a high school athlete from Maine, has stepped forward as a vocal challenger to her state's transgender-athlete policies, sending a pointed message to Gov. Janet Mills as debates over inclusivity in sports continue to spark controversy nationwide.

Sharing her experiences with Fox News Digital, Carlisle recounted the discomfort she felt as a middle schooler forced to change in front of a transgender student during gym class. That moment was an early glimpse into the broader implications of Maine's gender-inclusion policies in sports.

Now a senior, Carlisle has become a driving force for change. Her advocacy has taken her to meetings with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and public protests at the Maine State Capitol, where she courageously voiced her concerns about competing against transgender athletes. On Monday, she appeared on Fox & Friends and delivered a heartfelt plea to Gov. Mills.

"My message to the governor was just to think about all of us women in your state," Carlisle said. "If she can genuinely look at us and say, 'I’m not gonna fight for you,' then that’s really heartbreaking. Women fought hard for her to have the position she has, and for her to turn her back on us—it’s devastating."

Cassidy revealed that, even as a young teen, she sensed something was wrong with the policies but lacked the platform to speak up. "I was 13 years old, and I knew something wasn’t right, but I didn’t know how to address it. It’s hard feeling voiceless," she said. "I hope my actions show younger people that it’s okay to speak up."

In her op-ed for Fox News Digital, Carlisle expressed deep concerns about the erosion of fairness in women’s sports. "I truly fear for the future of women’s sports if states like my own continue in this direction. Girls of all ages are watching women be erased from sports—they can no longer trust that their hard work will lead to a fair competition against their physical equals," she wrote. "We must win this battle. Losing isn’t an option."

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has issued a firm deadline for Maine to comply with an executive order banning biological males from competing in women’s sports or face cuts to federal funding for public schools. The clock is ticking, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.