Facebook pages circulate post falsely implying 2 Westbrook student-athletes are trans

Westbrook High School Soccer Team at Center of Social‑Media Controversy

In the early part of June, a Facebook post that implied two girls on the Westbrook High School girls’ soccer team were transgender sparked a swift backlash from the town’s parents, school officials and local politicians. The post, originally shared by the state chapter of the national Parents’ Rights in Education (PRE) group, was taken down the same day after community members demanded its removal.

What Happened

The PRE Maine Facebook page posted a photo of the Westbrook varsity soccer team with the words “it’s not fair” superimposed over two players. The Westbrook Beat, a local conservative‑leaning “watchdog” page that reports on city and school board activity, reposted the image before it was pulled. Within hours, both accounts had the post deleted.

“We are outraged that adults are using children’s pictures to push a political agenda,” said Allen Sarvinas, director of PRE Maine, in an email to reporters. “Our community is not responsible for the content of our Facebook pages.” He added that the group had received a “first‑hand report from the Westbrook community” that a male athlete was participating in female athletics and that this was corroborated by another community source.

Westbrook’s superintendent, Peter Lancia, and the high school’s administration released a statement condemning the post and urging parents and students to support one another. “Personal attacks, harassment and public targeting of student‑athletes have no place in our school community,” the statement read. “We stand firmly in support of all of our students.”

Local Leaders Respond

Mayor David Morse posted a brief statement on his Facebook page. “These are young people who deserve to learn, build friendships, play sports, and take pride in representing Westbrook. They should not have to worry that adults will turn their team photos into material for a political attack,” he said.

State Representative Sue Salisbury, a Democrat from Westbrook, described the posts as “sick to her stomach.” She said her phone “started blowing up” when the images were shared Friday. “Very quickly, community members worked together to report the posts, find out where they came from, and ask the moderators of the Facebook accounts to take them down,” she told the paper. “After a few hours, both pages took down the posts. The message was loud and clear that in Westbrook, we’re not going to tolerate this hateful behavior.”

The Bigger Picture

PRE Maine is part of a national parents’‑rights coalition that is pushing a citizens’ initiative to bar transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports or using school facilities. The Maine chapter has been active in promoting the measure, but an earlier effort failed to gather enough valid signatures for the November ballot. Supporters say they will now try again for 2027.

The controversy echoes a national debate that gained national attention last year when Republican Representative Laurel Libby of Auburn posted a photo of a student‑athlete from Greely High School, identifying the student as transgender. The post led to a public showdown between Governor Janet Mills and President Donald Trump, and Libby was subsequently censured by the Maine House. She later filed a federal lawsuit against the House speaker, claiming that the censure violated her constitutional rights.

Parents and Community Reaction

The Portland Press Herald tried to reach the parents of one of the alleged transgender players, but did not receive a reply. One parent who responded expressed outrage on Facebook, stating that every parent should be “outraged” by the posts. In comments under the PRE and Westbrook Beat posts, many users criticized the targeting of the students and called for accountability.

“Personal attacks, harassment, and public targeting of student‑athletes have no place in our school community,” the superintendent’s message reiterated. “We do not tolerate language or behavior that demeans or marginalizes others.”

The Westbrook Beat’s moderator did not respond to requests for comment, and it remains unclear who operates the page.

Looking Ahead

The incident underscores how social media can quickly amplify sensitive local issues into broader controversies. While the Facebook posts have been removed, the underlying debate over transgender athletes’ participation in school sports continues to mobilize parents, politicians and advocacy groups across Maine. For the time being, Westbrook High School’s girls’ soccer team, and the students who play for it, have the support of their school district, city officials and a broad segment of the local community.