A Kennebunk, Maine, city official has stepped down from her liaison position with the native college board after going through backlash for suggesting that critics of a transgender athlete coverage have “pedophilic tendencies.”
Vice Chair Leslie Trentalange, who serves on the Kennebunk Choose Board, made the feedback throughout an Oct. 20 Regional Faculty Unit (RSU) 21 assembly that targeted on the district’s transgender-student athlete coverage. The coverage, per state legislation, permits college students to affix sports activities groups and use services matching their gender id.
Mother and father and group members throughout Maine have protested comparable insurance policies, arguing they violate Title IX protections.
Trentalange, who mentioned she was talking as a “involved group member,” informed the board that “the bulk on this district is aware of that each one college students are welcome.” She went on to say that opponents of the transgender coverage have “creepy obsessions” and have “made hate their solely passion.”
She added that “their obsession with what’s sitting in between the personal elements of our college students is nothing lower than creepy and may completely be elevating eyebrows in and round our college district.”
“Their obsession with genitalia factors to not caring for the scholars on this district, however maybe towards an underlying guilt for their very own pedophilic tendencies,” she continued. “There’s a registry for that.”
Her remarks drew gasps from these in attendance and a fast response from RSU 21 Faculty Board Chair Matthew Stratford, who referred to as her feedback “inappropriate.”
“I don’t assume that was inappropriate, and I stand by my feedback,” Trentalange responded.
Her remarks sparked backlash from some locally, prompting letters to the Kennebunk Choose Board and requires accountability on social media.
At an Oct. 28 Choose Board assembly, John Salamone, a Republican candidate for Maine Senate District 31, accused Trentalange of violating the city’s code of conduct and urged her censure.
“When an elected official makes use of her platform to publicly slander residents, she undermines the integrity of this board and erodes public belief in native authorities,” Salamone mentioned. He referred to as for her elimination as liaison to RSU 21 and for a public apology.
Some residents echoed his criticism, whereas others argued that Trentalange’s feedback have been protected below state legislation and the First Modification. Former RSU 21 Board member Lesley Stoeffler mentioned, “Ms. Trentalange doesn’t owe anybody an apology.”
Different residents and board members, talking as personal residents, defended her proper to free speech.
“Vote them out, that’s how democracy works,” Karen Plattes mentioned in response to requires punitive motion. “Stifling free speech just isn’t the best way. And that doesn’t matter what aspect you’re on.”
“I personally really feel that Leslie had 100% the proper and the liberty of speech to say what she feels about any matter, identical to any of us do, and I’ll at all times help my fellow board members,” Kortney Nedeau mentioned. “I simply know that as an elected official, for me, it’s an moral choice to by no means cross that line.”
Throughout the identical assembly, Trentalange acknowledged that her remarks might have “pushed some boundaries” however stood by them. She declined to apologize to these she criticized and as an alternative expressed remorse towards the “queer group.”
“If there are people within the marginalized, queer group who really feel my message didn’t serve them or harm them in any approach, it’s that which I remorse,” she mentioned. “I do additionally remorse any undue or undeserved backlash different members of the Choose Board or city workers have felt over my feedback as a person.”
Trentalange mentioned she would step down as liaison to the college board to keep away from any “confusion” over her position with the college district when attending conferences. She stays vice chair of the Kennebunk Choose Board.
RSU 21, Trentalange and the Choose Board didn’t return Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
In an Oct. 27 assertion posted to Fb, Stratford mentioned the district’s transgender coverage complies with the Maine Human Rights Act and won’t be revisited this college 12 months. He urged civility at future conferences and reminded residents that there’s “no place for harassment, discriminatory language, or disrespectful phrases” throughout public remark.
