A Maine father was abruptly cut off and dismissed from a school board meeting this week after he spoke out against biological males playing in girls’ sports—a stance that drew cheers from some in the audience and censorship from the school board chair.

Nick Blanchard, wearing a red MAGA hat and a shirt declaring Democratic Governor Janet Mills “fired,” attended the Augusta Board of Education meeting on Wednesday night. During the public comment portion, he praised the board’s recent vote to restore the 2020 federal interpretation of Title IX, which recognized only biological sex for team participation. Six of the seven board members had voted in favor of that policy change.

“Good job and thank you to the six members that voted to go back to the 2020 interpretation of Title IX, and shame on the one board member that voted no,” Blanchard said—before being interrupted by Board Chair Martha Witham.

“I’m sorry, but negative comments will not be allowed,” Witham snapped.

Blanchard pivoted to another issue—his Change.org petition seeking the removal of Kim Liscomb, the principal of Cony Middle and High School, who also happens to be president of the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA). The MPA supports policies that allow trans-identifying males to compete in girls’ sports under the state’s Human Rights Act.

“I’m asking if you, the school board members, will put up a vote to have Ms. Kim—” Blanchard said before Witham again cut him off, calling his remarks “defamatory.” When he asked how they were defamatory, she refused to explain: “I don’t have to explain it to you.”

Blanchard tried to continue by referring to Liscomb’s position abstractly, avoiding her name, but Witham wasn’t having it. “Nope, close enough. I’m sorry, you’re done, Mr. Blanchard,” she said, demanding he leave the podium.

As he walked away, Blanchard made one final jab: “Communist China right here!”

Supporters in the crowd—clad in red—walked out with him in solidarity. According to local outlet WMTW-TV, Blanchard’s petition was gaining attention. While his personal version had fewer than 200 signatures by Friday, a similar petition to remove Liscomb had topped 1,000.

In his petition, Blanchard accuses the MPA of undermining fair play and gender equality, writing: “This decision strikes a blow against the spirit of fair competition and undermines the rights of young women.”

Superintendent Michael Tracy Jr. dismissed the incident as “national partisan politics manifesting in local government,” brushing aside the criticism as a misunderstanding of policy change procedures.

Still, the Augusta School Board’s official policy encourages parent involvement and respects families’ voices—raising questions about why Blanchard’s speech was cut off.

The Maine Principals’ Association stood firmly behind Liscomb, calling her a committed leader whose presidency ends this summer. “If Congress or the State Legislature changes the law, we will adapt our policy accordingly,” the MPA said in a statement.

That’s exactly what President Donald Trump has already done. In February, he signed an executive order banning male participation in female sports and directing the Department of Education to revoke funds from schools that fail to comply. Maine has until Friday to update its policies or risk losing federal education funding.

In response, Maine filed a lawsuit this week accusing the Trump administration of unlawfully withholding grant money “that goes to keeping children fed.”

But to parents like Nick Blanchard, this battle isn’t about politics—it’s about preserving fairness and protecting opportunities for young women in sports. And while his mic may have been cut, his fight is only just beginning.