Share The Struggle
Share The Struggle
Maine's Betrayal of Women; Miss Maine Controversy 249
"Maine continues to cater to transgenders at the expense of women." This powerful statement opens a raw, honest conversation about a growing controversy in Maine's social landscape. Following the state's decisions about transgender policies in women's sports and prisons, attention now turns to the Miss Maine pageant, where the first-ever transgender contestant will compete in the traditionally female competition.
The episode features deeply personal insights from a former Miss Maine contestant who shares her transformative experience competing at age 19. She describes the year-long journey of preparation, fundraising, community service, and personal growth that made the pageant so meaningful. With remarkable detail, she reveals the financial investment required and the sisterhood formed through shared vulnerability backstage.
This controversy touches on fundamental questions about women's spaces and opportunities. The hosts discuss how the intimate nature of these competitions—including communal changing areas and the trust between contestants—creates environments specifically designed for women's empowerment. They question what happens when these spaces change, potentially making contestants uncomfortable or causing some to withdraw altogether.
Drawing connections to other recent incidents where women's rights have been subordinated to transgender inclusion policies, the episode examines how this fits into a larger pattern in Maine and beyond. A surprising revelation comes when the former contestant shares her pageant program featuring Donald Trump (then-owner of Miss Universe) emphasizing opportunities specifically for "young women"—highlighting the stark contrast with current policies.
Whether you're concerned about women's rights, interested in the complexities of gender politics, or simply want to understand the human impact of these policy decisions, this episode offers thoughtful perspectives from those directly affected. Join us for this crucial conversation about balancing inclusion with protecting spaces that have historically empowered women and girls.
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Maine continues to cater to transgenders at the expense of women. Last week we talked about female student-athletes and women in prison. Today we look into beauty pageants, as Maine celebrates the first transgender to compete in Miss Maine. Let me tell you something Everybody struggles. The difference is some people choose to go through it and some choose to grow through it. The choice is completely yours. Which one you choose will have a very profound effect on the way you live your life. If you find strength in the struggle, then this podcast is for you. Struggle and this podcast is for you. You have a relationship that is comfortable with uncomfortable conversations. Uncomfortable conversations challenge you, humble you and they build you. When you sprinkle a little time and distance on it, it all makes sense and it all makes sense. Most disagreements, they stem from our own insecurities.
Speaker 2:You are right where you need to be Back on time. We can battle this.
Speaker 1:The whole day gone, we'll be fine. Do, do, do, do what it do what it hot. Do, do, do, do, do, do. Good Lord, almighty, am I so excited to be back with you. Oh, it's true, girl, you know, it's true Girl. You know it's true Girl, you know it's true. What boy band did I just hit right there? What was that? Is that Bobby Brown? What was that?
Speaker 2:I think you just made that up.
Speaker 1:No, that's an old 90s jam. I think that's like Bobby Brown.
Speaker 1:No way Girl. You know, it's true, something like that. I guess it's fitting that I'm starting today's show off a little boy band girl tribute right there, because again we are going to be here just talking and promoting and pushing for women's rights in the great state of maine, as maine continues to shed that spotlight on trans genders in maine, which I don't have a problem with whatsoever. But it's when it comes at the expense of women in Maine that I have a problem with it. Because last week, with a controversial episode Cell Block she where we talked about Maine losing funding for a couple of reasons, one of them being that we've allowed transgenders to compete in women's sports, robbing women of opportunities, robbing young girls of their opportunities, and then we also discussed Maine Department of Corrections losing $1.5 million in funding because we prioritize the safety of a transgender murderer over the safety of fellow female inmates. So last week those were the hot topics. This week is taking a little bit of a turn, as I'm not the one running the hot mic this week.
Speaker 2:No, no, it's me, because this shit really grinds my gears.
Speaker 1:I knew you were going to go with the gear grinding. I just sensed it.
Speaker 2:Burns my toast.
Speaker 1:Burns my toast.
Speaker 2:Chaps my ass.
Speaker 1:Alright, she's a real ass chap, this one, Not to be confused with assless chaps, which is encouraged and can provide safety in motorcycles. I wear assless chaps, which is encouraged, and can provide safety in motorcycles.
Speaker 2:I wear assless chaps.
Speaker 1:We should wear them while you're making eggs. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:You also want me to make coffee with no shirt on.
Speaker 1:Hey America.
Speaker 2:I didn't know you wanted flapjacks with your breakfast.
Speaker 1:I am literally, I'm going to push you around. I'll tell you what.
Speaker 2:With my assless chaps.
Speaker 1:Good Lord, this episode of the podcast has literally come undone and we have not even hit like minute two.
Speaker 2:This is what happens. This is our relationship. Live in the flesh Mic on.
Speaker 1:We probably shouldn't have had the microphone on for this portion of it Before I let you get all hot and bothered and under the collar here You'll probably just cut it out anyway. What's that I was talking? What did you just say?
Speaker 2:I said, you'll probably just cut it out anyway.
Speaker 1:No, I probably won't. It's getting way too late for me to go back and edit now. While you were trying to get little Miss Paisley ready for a nap or some nighttime sweepy sweepies, which didn't go according to plan because currently the three of us are recording on the couch. We're spread out strategically. You're in one area on the old L-shaped couch, I'm on the other, and then in the center of the triangle is little Paisley with her little party banana. Look at you.
Speaker 2:She's brushing her teeth.
Speaker 1:Brushing her two teeth with a banana Not an actual banana, but like a chew toy one.
Speaker 2:It's not a chew toy, it's a teether.
Speaker 1:It's the same difference, really Right, it's a chew toy.
Speaker 2:She's not a dog?
Speaker 1:Well, she's teething and puppies do the same thing. So we're going to see how this goes. But while you were getting her ready because she was supposed to be sleeping, which she's clearly not I was actually getting ready for the podcast and I had Fox News on and this kind of goes hand-in-hand with what we're about to talk about. But this kind of adds a little bit to last week's episode. I don't know if you heard it, but they had two dads on the news tonight.
Speaker 1:I don't know what state it was in, but their daughters are soccer players in high school and they had to compete against a transgender athlete. And to support their daughters and to protest the fact that they didn't believe it was correct and they didn't believe it was safe, they had these pink wristbands made with two X's on the wristbands, and the parents were wearing them while sitting in lawn chairs on the sidelines. They're not out there openly protesting with microphones, megaphones, yelling, hooting, hollering, anything like that. They're literally just showing support for their daughters. They don't think it's right. And they're on the sidelines and a member of the school board went over to them and said take them off or leave. And they were like this is my first amendment right, it's free speech. I'm not going anywhere. They called the cops on them.
Speaker 2:No, they didn't.
Speaker 1:Yes, they called the cops on them. The cops went over and argued with them and then said this is private property, they don't want you here. You got to go. Then, um, it turns into a court case cause they're claiming this is my first amendment right. And a federal judge told these two dads when you're at a school, you don't have any rights. When you're at a private property for a school, you don't have first amendment rights. And they are banned from the location, like they're not allowed to go to watch their kids.
Speaker 1:What Now? What's ridiculous about this is, I'm confident if there was somebody on the other sidelines, on the other team, with a bunch of signs going off about pro trans athletes, they would not have been asked to remove their signs. That's what I have a problem with. And number two these dads were just on the news saying this is about safety. It's about safety.
Speaker 1:And Laura Ingram was like why do you allow your daughters to compete? And their whole standpoint on this was my daughter's been competing since she was, or started playing soccer when she was three Right, and she's in high school, and I don't want to take this from her. One dad was like she's competed for 13 years. She's now the captain of her team. This team has a chance to go to a. They're going to the playoffs and the like school board or the athletic board told them if you protest this game against this transgender boy, if you protest this game, we are going to bar you from the playoffs.
Speaker 1:So they had to allow their daughters to compete against a boy. Risk safety or they were going to risk the opportunity that they've worked 13, 14 years of their life for. One of the little girls was a captain. Can you imagine losing out on the one thing you've been working for with all your friends forever? It's ridiculous and that's what this comes down to. There's countless cases of head trauma with females in these different sports volleyball, basketball, all these different things and we're setting a precedence that this is okay and I'm just tired of it. I'm absolutely tired of it. I didn't want to have this conversation yet again this week, but this afternoon, as I was thinking of topics to record on today, you sent me a news article and then, literally before, like we were on the same page because I was typing to you you should talk about it and you were typing to me oh, I'm talking about this.
Speaker 2:I'm pissed.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm going to let you take it from here, because I'll just slide in from time to time, but this is just something that you discovered today and it bothered you deeply because it brings back something that you cherished and appreciated and worked for as a kid.
Speaker 2:I wrote some notes down because I'm like I need to stay on topic because I'm not going to pull you.
Speaker 1:Wow, shots fired, that's nice. Down because I'm like I need to stay on topic because I'm not gonna pull you.
Speaker 2:Wow, shots fired, that's that's nice so before we got started, I literally ran downstairs to the garage, to my office supplies, and pulled out a three ring binder, mind you, okay, my hand.
Speaker 1:People can hear it because every time you move over there they can hear your binder my hand on the.
Speaker 2:The people can hear it because every time you move over there they can hear your binder my hand on the three-ring binder. Okay, this binder was created back in 2012.
Speaker 1:Throwback.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and the entire thing is just how I left it, and let's just get into this binder here for a quick second. In 2012, I competed in this exact same pageant. I was 19 years old, I was actually doing a few modeling gigs and I was actually approached by Ashley Underwood, which some people may know from Maine as one of the contestants on Survivor. I was actually at an event that she was at and she was telling me all about Miss Maine and how empowering it is for women and how much of a great organization it is.
Speaker 2:I had the opportunity to meet with Mackenzie Small, who was one of the coordinators for the pageants in Maine, and I had a sit down interview with her and she also was like yeah, I think you really should do this. I had them send me over the contract and I started looking over it. Honestly, like at that moment in time, I'm 19 years old and I'm like I don't know how I'm going to pay for this. I have my contract right here from 2012. It was $895. And that was just my sponsorship. I had to fundraise, I had to do all different kinds of things, but during this process leading up to November 19, at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center, you can say all this because she legitimately has the binder with.
Speaker 1:On the outside of the binder is the tickets and everything. And before you get going on that, I just want to put an emphasis on this for people to realize that my wife's held on to this notebook for 13 years. For whatever reason, here I am in my book well, I can tell you the reason was because it was important to you yeah, it was very, you worked hard for this, and it's something that you're Very proud of, right One day.
Speaker 2:I want Miss Paisley to be able to look at this and be like, wow, my mom did this, this is really cool, this is awesome, and it's a year-long process. From the moment that you accept your title, which mine was Miss Arundel, it's a year-long process for you to campaign fundraise. During this time, you're also required to do check-ins, which is a way to check in.
Speaker 1:It's a way oh wow, um.
Speaker 2:And they go over, um, your calorie count, they go over your food intake. They basically teach you how to eat, breathe and sleep pageant life. We had a personal trainer, a buddy, by John.
Speaker 1:He was a really good dude actually. I know John, he was a great guy.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:He's a loud, proud American. He buys our stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love that Another opportunity, that we another. What were you saying earlier?
Speaker 1:Something about it's kind of like two ships crossing in the night. We always talk about how our paths have crossed many times. We never really connected because, we weren't ready to be connected. Your book, actually, that you were showing me. I recognize the cover.
Speaker 2:Ashley.
Speaker 1:Because the cover was a friend of mine, ashley Marble, who was Miss Maine. I met her when I was working at the dealership. She used to come do some events with us and hang out and kind of party with us and stuff, and she actually was the reigning Miss Maine who handed out the crown, yep. So it's kind of crazy because at the time that you were competing and she was the crown winner, the current winner, the current miss maine um, she was hanging out with the dealership from time to time and you know. So another opportunity where we could have actually crossed paths, which is kind of kind of crazy, you know, because she brought other people that were competing with her stuff too.
Speaker 1:so, very well, could have been you at that time, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so Ashley was actually giving her crown away when we competed. And then there was Ashley Underwood, who was the girl that introduced me to Miss Maine.
Speaker 2:Uh introduced survivor you said, yeah, introduced me to miss Maine, um, so it was actually double time. That were basically like running the show. So Ashley Underwood was actually, um, like the MC for the entire event, so it was like really cool to be able to see her up there. Um, but over the year of leading up to this event was so empowering. Here I am 19 years old. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
Speaker 2:I don't know what I want to do but I was living on your own living on my own for a few years at that point, two years on my own, and that was another reason why how I didn't know how I was going to come up with the money, because I knew rent was due, cell phone bills were due, this, that and the third, and I needed to come up with 895 dollars just to be welcomed into competing. That doesn't include my outfit. I need a pageant gown, I need a swimsuit, I need an interview outfit. I need to pay for hair and makeup. I literally have my entire docket here. I also have to pay a $150 registration fee. That does not even go towards my $895 dollars. So, like, this is already a thousand dollars.
Speaker 1:like, and I haven't even probably 1500 bucks or two grand by the time you figure out expenses going places and traveling that was back in 2011, 2012.
Speaker 2:Like I couldn't even imagine how much it is now, um, but yeah, like that that's the thing. And then you know, it's also like thankfully, I had the opportunity for a bunch of these modeling gigs before this, so I already had headshots, because that would have been another cost not factored in. Like there's so many things that you have to do leading up to this event that you have to do leading up to this event. You also have to show your presence. Like I am Mr Rundle, so you have to do things in the community.
Speaker 1:Stay active in the community, you have to stay active, so this is encouraging you to get out and fundraise right, you're having to, you know, basically build these different skills Because you're forced into the community Number one to go out and ask for sponsorships to fundraise, to sell yourself, to sell the organization, to sell the event and the opportunity. These are all core values and beliefs that you're building at this time and you know you're also forced into community service out there in the community giving back, doing positive things.
Speaker 1:So I really think that what people don't realize about some of these beauty pageant things, it's not just about how good somebody looks and oh wow, she's beautiful, so she can compete in this. It's no, you're actually learning a lot of things and you're building character and you're building values and establishing beliefs, because you're having to do a lot of things for the first time and you're also getting yourself out of your comfort zone and for many people that could be the first time that you really put yourself out there, out of your comfort zone, and ask for sponsorships, ask for money and volunteer and do all those type of things. So I think it's a real big character building thing when you dig into all that goes into it.
Speaker 2:So I think it's a real big character building thing when you dig into all that goes into it. I did a couple of different things I know. One of them was helping out at the local animal shelter here in Pennybunk and that was like just walking dogs and stuff and it was just like, yes, I went and walked dogs with my sash on, like it's. You just did those sort of things. But I also helped raise money for Special Olympics because that holds a really soft spot in my heart. So you know, it's not just one fundraiser, it's like making awareness of people choose it Because, as you're mentioning, that that's the charity that I worked with with Ashley was Special Olympics.
Speaker 2:No, you have the ability to choose whoever and whatever fundraiser you want it to go to. Ashley and I, I can recall, connected on that very much.
Speaker 1:That makes sense because that's the charity and the events that we worked together on was for special Olympics.
Speaker 2:Yep, yep, absolutely. Um, I do recall us having conversations about that specifically. Um, and the fact that I actually got to attend a special, a special Olympics um horseback riding event which was really cool. Yeah, cause my grandma, my mom, used to bring um our horses and our children um from the um from the group that don't realize, like your grandmother, the one you consider, that raised you she.
Speaker 1:She was a foster for the state. She took care of a lot of kids, uh, and a lot of kids with with needs, special needs, um, and to come full circle, it's something that I know that you said in the beginning here. That has really nothing to do with the topic for today, but you competed. The final contest was on November 19th.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Which you didn't realize until just a few minutes ago when you opened your binder. And for the people that don't know that haven't been listening since day one but, um, you lost your your mom, aka grandmother, on november 19th. Yeah, and I lost my father on november 19th. So, uh, kind of crazy how these 1119s continue to uh, to add up for us. But we've kind of talked a little bit about just how much this pageant meant to you as a kid, how much you feel like it really instilled some good values in you, challenged you, got you out of your comfort zone, helped build some character. So we have all these positives that came from you competing in this pageant. I want to go from there and transition to how did we end up talking about this today and what happened today that got you all fired up, that led into this podcast tonight.
Speaker 2:I was on my lunch break and I was just like perusing around the social media just looking for a dose of dopamine.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow, look at you just reusing the content.
Speaker 2:I am a day one listener, so I appreciate that I acknowledge you. Oh, good one.
Speaker 1:Happy WrestleMania week.
Speaker 2:Oh, for the love of God oh, good, one happy wrestlemania week, oh, for the love of god anyway. So I was just perusing around and I happened to come across a family friend who had posted an article from main news talking about um, the first ever transgender competing in miss main pageant, and this was like the headline and I was like pump the brake, sister. Like this is this is not true. So of course, curiosity killed the cat.
Speaker 1:And here I am that was me killing the cat.
Speaker 2:Being a nosy neighbor. Okay, click on the article and start reading it. And I am like reading this article, I do not even get halfway through it before, I just like stop what I am doing and immediately send it to you. I'm like, no, this is a hard no.
Speaker 1:This is a hard no. I can tell via the text. You were heated.
Speaker 2:I'm aggravated. I'm so many emotions. To be honest, I think the biggest thing is that I know what I poured into this competition myself, and this was so many years ago, and it is blood, sweat and tears to the finest. We talked about it earlier, about some of the things that you have to do, and it's like sponsorships, seminars, dress rehearsals, meeting with coaches to teach you how to walk, speak, talk, stand all that kind of stuff, photo shoots, campaigns, and let's just not even stop there. When it comes to your fitness and also what you eat, I just found a pamphlet that said that I could only eat 15 grams of sugar a day Like this was serious business. A day Like this was serious business. So for me to read this article and see that a transgender is going to compete in the competition, it hurts me for those girls, because this is just one more thing that is being taken away from women, and we've talked about it a hundred times. We have nothing against transgender, do you like? But this is not a place for you.
Speaker 1:This is for women empowerment, this is for born females yeah, you're touching on something that I think is really important women empowerment. Yes, this is a sisterhood and I feel like that circle of trust is violated by a biological man being involved in that.
Speaker 2:You want to talk about violation center, having this um pageant. Behind the stage is just a band room. It's an open room. I can't tell you how many sets of tits and ass I saw as a female hey, now you need a sponsor uh, no, I do not. But how do we now incorporate a transgender in that situation? And don't get me wrong there are bathrooms. There are like people who are not comfortable in their own body, like in their own skin.
Speaker 1:There are other areas for them to change, however sometimes it's so fast-paced you don't have the opportunity right you don't coming stage. People are just throwing things.
Speaker 2:You're going from one outfit to the next Hitting it in and out. Yes.
Speaker 1:That's not going to make the majority of those women feel comfortable.
Speaker 2:No, it's not going to bother them, but.
Speaker 1:It's not going to bother them, you don't think?
Speaker 2:You mean like us?
Speaker 1:for to now have a transgender. Oh, yes, yes, yes sorry, I thought you were saying like, while we're in the moment, because it's a like I'm just saying now I would assume it's going to bother a bunch of women that are either not feeling comfortable getting naked in front of a biological male or them you know, that person getting naked in front of a bunch of women absolutely 100, 100 I don't know this person personally, so I don't know where they're at in a transition or whatever, but if the facts are that it's now being covered by the news that this is a biological male, then I've got to feel that the majority of these contestants are not going to be comfortable.
Speaker 1:considering, as we've been saying this entire time, the United States population believes this is an 80-20 situation. 80% of the country don't believe this is okay. So if 80% of the women that compete in this don't feel like this is okay, then that's a problem. We should be standing up for those women.
Speaker 2:I agree. I agree Because, as you had mentioned, this is a sisterhood. I looked through my catalog and I still have connections with a handful of the girls that competed with me. A friend of yours' niece was competing in Miss Teen with me, and so we leaned on each other during this time. You know what I mean. So you're absolutely correct when you, when you, look at this as like a sisterhood, women empowering women during this, it really bothers me that this is just one more thing on the docket that is being taken away from. Women Like to be completely honest, and I don't mean this in a bad way, but that's what they have drag for.
Speaker 1:I agree, yeah, there's, and drag has. We all kind of have our lane right and drag has pageants yeah.
Speaker 2:And don't get me wrong, like I watch Rupal's drag rupal, whatever it is yeah, sure, I watch the show. You know what I mean, and these drag do a very good job at what they do, but that's their lane right that's their lane and to me it really bothers me. It really does to no end because there is just it was such an amazing opportunity for me to be a part of, so empowering for me as a 19-year-old looking for strength and collaboration with these women.
Speaker 1:It's tough because I'm sure there's people that are going to be out there that are going to say well, what is the big problem here? Why are we attacking this person? And I think it comes down to realizing there's a lot of women out there, and this is multi-layered. Here we just talked about the ones that probably aren't going to feel comfortable in the locker room. We're talking about this sisterhood that is being violated as a circle of trust that no longer exists. There's also probably a great population of women that are either. Now maybe they've come this far. This is now going to be in May. Right, this contest is in May. You've already told us it took a year to build up to this. How many girls right now are at month 11 and are not going to show up in May?
Speaker 2:That's the possibility. That's a huge possibility, and not for nothing. But all that blood, sweat and tears that they put out on the line means nothing.
Speaker 1:We just talked about these dads saying that they've watched their little girls play this sport for 13 years and now they're going to sit out because of this or they're forced to sit out. There's also a lot of women that maybe they wanted to compete in this and now they're not going to. A lot of young girls that might have been looking up to, like their big sister or their aunt that's done this and they're getting to the age where they want to do it and now this is going to be publicized and blown out of proportion because of this particular situation and then maybe next year those girls don't try out, Because I think you mentioned you were reading through some of your information there like 500 girls interviewed and like 150 kind of make it so yeah, so there is an interview process that happens Basically.
Speaker 2:You go in front of a panel of judges and so there are anywhere between 400, 500 girls that show up for that interview process and you basically like answer a ton of questions, um, and they ask you like why are you here? Like that is the number one question, why are you here?
Speaker 2:right what do you want to do? What would miss, miss main um miss universe mean to you? And you have to like explain that to them like um. So there is a a lengthy process. I know um my interview in particular. Like I was nervous, I'm looking around. That alone is intimidating right and you come in in waves like they're not all. Five, four hundred, five hundred of us show up all at once. Some of us are in the introduction period Because they used the Homestead Hotel in Scarborough.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So you actually have different rooms that you have to go to. So the first one is your introduction process. You basically interview with, at the time, mackenzie davis, and she's the co-chair of maine, um, miss maine, and you kind of go through the process, but during this time, at the very end, you do see everyone no, no kidding and it's intimidating.
Speaker 2:You're looking around and you're like, at that moment you're like I don't have what it takes. I know I went through that. I was like I don't stand a chance next to half of these girls like, because it's your standard stereotypical blonde haired, blue eyed, skinny girl like you're like that's the pageant, that's you know and the thing is is that in the headshot that we saw for the person that's competing? You, you just described it.
Speaker 1:Yep Blonde haired, blue eyes, skinny Yep Falls in the box. Looks pretty from the photo right.
Speaker 1:And you don't know that this is somebody that's transitioning or wherever they are at in their process and their stage questions I have in this is when they go through that interview process, do the people that are asking the questions or doing the considering for the finalists, people that are running the organization if this still goes this way I'm assuming it does did they know she was trans? Because by looking at the photo that I've seen, I wouldn't know. First glance right. I didn't go seek this person out and look for a bunch of photos. I have no clue.
Speaker 2:It's not on the contract but there's a but.
Speaker 1:There's a great possibility that this person could have interviewed without really somebody picking up on it?
Speaker 1:I don't know or did they interview? And the question of why are you here was well, I'm trans and I want to, you know, start this movement. I don't know, I don't know what happened here, but if that's the case and this person did get moved on into the process, then they did. They take somebody else's spot based off of the agenda that they're ready to push Correct, and we're just kind of throwing stones here. I don't, I don't know what's.
Speaker 2:I don't know the person, I don't know.
Speaker 1:I don't we weren't there. I don't know if they said I'm standing on this agenda, this is why I want to do it, and they're like okay, here's an opportunity to move this agenda on. We're going to definitely move this person forward, which could eliminate somebody else. Or they didn't know this person was trans. They kept that from them and they just made it on their qualification, like how they did in their interview.
Speaker 2:And a month before the competition, it comes out in New Zealand. Does it come out now? I have no clue. We have no clue, right, we have no idea.
Speaker 1:I did see that the person said they made the decision to compete before Donald Trump was president, right, so this has been going on long enough A year-long process and, to be honest, if I'm that person and I've said the same thing about our state in general over what's been going on as much of a focus, our state has over these issues.
Speaker 2:I would bow out, absolutely.
Speaker 1:I would bow out and just say this isn't the right time and I'm going to let these girls have their space and live out their dream there. Two athletes in maine that are keeping this main school systems for millions and millions of dollars. You should just do the right thing for the state, you know. So some of that just kind of kind of gets me, but I don't know what that person's motive is for for doing this, and I did see in the article that they're new to pageantry. So, like, my questions are like was this all an agenda to push this, you know, narrative upon people? But regardless of whatever it is, someone probably lost an opportunity. There's probably a great portion of women that feel like they lost their trust and there could be women that will decide to not show up. There could be women in the future that will decide not to compete. There's ramifications, there's continued consequences when all we have to do is stand up and protect women and their safety. I would be pissed off knowing that my girl was competing in this and changing out back with a biological male.
Speaker 1:I would also have the question that, knowing our state and the situation, I'm going to go ahead and make the assumption right now they're going to be a finalist and probably win this damn thing because they want to push an agenda right. And it's going to be one of two things either, because this is the way the world works right now Either this person wins for the state of Maine and it puts Maine on the map. We're going to have a transgender represent our state when it's the state that's challenging the White House currently. Let's push this narrative. Here we are, we're all in support, this is what Maine wants or they're not going to be a finalist, they're not going to win and it's going to turn into well clearly, this is because I'm trans. I just feel one of those things are going to happen. There's going to be an uproar and outrage regardless, and because of that, I guarantee that even the judges are going to feel the pressure that this is going to make national news, whatever I decide here.
Speaker 2:Right, so what side of the?
Speaker 1:news. Do I want to be?
Speaker 1:on Exactly who did you vote for? What do you believe in? What side of the news channel do you want to be on? Because this is going to be headed for national news based off of the spotlight that is already on our damn state. I don't know. That's what really has me fired up with the whole scenario. And if I roll this back to a few weeks ago, when we talk about being productive on social media, I've done so many lives while I'm working on TikTok lately and when people find out I'm from Maine, it's the number one thing that comes up. People from California, iowa, all down, south Alabama, carolina, all these states, texas. As soon as they find out I'm from Maine, they just start going off on it Like what the hell is your state doing?
Speaker 1:Does everybody there believe this? What's going on? This is an 80-20 situation. Your governor's a mess mess. How do you live there? Does everybody think that way? Like you have to literally just go on there and kind of battle the nonsense. That's just. Nobody agrees with this shit. I don't understand why we're standing on this hill. What you get this is good. I think you should tell everybody what's on the inside cover and then get into what you're about to say I was just reading this over oh good so, um, this magazine, here is, uh, all of our headshots.
Speaker 2:Um, for anyone who competed for miss bane. Um, yes, I am in the book, um, but I just want to go over the fact that. Let me just see here. This is page um, this is page uh, two this is crazy how this stuff all connects yeah, so this is this. Book was cut in 2012 right for our event, which is stated on the front november 19th 2011, 2011. Okay, so, because we're going into the new year, the 2012 is the. This is the new Miss Maine. Right Page number two is a big old picture.
Speaker 1:Beautiful headshot.
Speaker 2:Of Mr Donald J Trump.
Speaker 1:It's unbelievable. When you pulled out your Miss Maine book and flipped that thing open and the first thing I seen is basically a presidential headshot. Yep, oh yeah, that's I mean ideal DJ T, that's him right there, ideal.
Speaker 2:Yep. And it says right there on the cover a message from Donald J Trump Signed down here at the bottom right here Same signature that we see on all the executive orders.
Speaker 1:It right here, same signature that we see on all the executive orders.
Speaker 2:it's a big, beautiful signature and it says miss universe organization yep so I'm not gonna go ahead and read the whole thing, because he was behind all that.
Speaker 1:He's big in in in the women movement and women's rights and I think people can criticize him all they want, but he is standing up for women.
Speaker 2:The shit he's doing is protecting women I'll be curious to see how he takes a stand on this coming out in the news, especially since he's fighting governor mills in general and like this is this is his business right, you know what I mean. He's a big part of this um, so I'm not going to read this whole thing, uh, but basically it just welcomes you for, you know, joining um 2020 12, 12. Okay 2012 Miss Maine Universe. But it says the Miss Universe Organization aids young women, capitalized Young women.
Speaker 2:But there's a whole different intro in the book this year, you know cultivating personal career goals, nurturing fellowship and using a constructive voice to affect positive change in the world. This is a truly unique experience and one that will prove life-changing for not only the winner, but for all of those competing. Like. He capitalizes young women in here and he even says like in the very bottom, his like close. One of his closing statements is we are confident each young lady will leave this experience with an unforgettable memories, strong relationships, friendships and a great sense of accomplishment.
Speaker 1:It's crazy to me, the full circle that's happened here. I mean, we have a president that's standing up for women's rights. We have our governor, who's the first female governor for the state defying to protect women, standing in the face of law, defying law to protect transgenders. Now it bleeds into a beauty pageant and when it hits home for you and you pull out the binder, the first thing we see is a headshot from President Trump empowering young girls and talking about how this is going to impact you, stick with you, mold you, change you. And he was dead on right because you still have that book and you still have that binder. It made a difference in you, it impacted you, it empowered you, and here we are, taking that from what he puts an emphasis on women.
Speaker 1:Here we are.
Speaker 2:If I ever had the opportunity to meet him, I would bring this to Ed Gein's book.
Speaker 1:Have him sign that book, sign this. Can you imagine that's awesome.
Speaker 2:I would, I would. That'd be official business right there.
Speaker 1:I've been toying around with all the things I want to write and send to President Trump with some t-shirts.
Speaker 1:Imagine him actually reading through our whole story on some of this stuff. I don't know if it would ever happen, but I just want to do it to see, just to see, with the emphasis that we have on our state and how we believe, and for him to realize that there are people in Maine that are thankful he's actually trying to protect Maine, to keep Maine from this nonsense that we're dealing with, we're dealing with. It's crazy to me that this continues to have an impact on our lives and the things that you know, like our own stories, like my brother losing a rehab possibility. You realizing the impact that this pageant has for young women having a firsthand experience on this, I was like it's kind of crazy that it keeps having those connections, but I think that there's a lot of power in today's show by you sharing how much this meant to you and hopefully people realize the opportunities that are being taken from young girls, just like you back in 2012.
Speaker 2:You know it's sad, it's really sad, it is really sad.
Speaker 1:I just can't believe that these people won't stand up for the young girls. They're so blindsided by trying to really just place the priorities of one person above many.
Speaker 2:The thing that I have a hard time standing on is like. Standing on is like lately, all you hear is like blue lives matter, black lives matter. This person's lives matter, da-da-da-da-da. How about women's lives? There's nothing about women period Our lives matter.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's nothing about safety, there's nothing about women's rights.
Speaker 1:But even the fact of like I am a mom, okay, and they don't you're, you can't even be called that anymore, like you're literally called like a carrier of baby or something of that serious I'm not kidding, I don't know the exact terminology, but it just makes you sick like a woman can't be a woman what's crazy to me is a lot of the people that are pushing this agenda, that are so pro trans rights and freaking about about all this nonsense are the same ones that 10 years ago were so pro women's rights, like they're the ones that were legitimately like. I'm not shaving my armpits, I'm not shaving my legs, I'm not going to cater to a man, I'm not trying to, you know, bow down to the man. Women should have rights. We don't need to do all this shit to make men happy. We need to be making just as much money as men, just as much opportunities as men.
Speaker 1:And now here they are turning their back on the women they were fighting for in the first place. Like I don't understand it. All the people that are pushing for equal rights for women, for equal pay for women, are the same ones now that don't give two shits about their safety. I just feel like this issue goes beyond women. Women have become the sacrifice for the cause, and the cause for some of these crazy lunatics is to go against anything president trump says, like right now, we would rather disagree with trump. Instead of protect women, they're turning their backs on the people they fought for, because there's one person they just absolutely despise. There's so many things in this world that people just can't get on board with, even though they know they're right, because of the person that suggested it. It's unbelievable.
Speaker 2:So I just looked it up just for curiosity. Birthing people.
Speaker 1:Birthing people.
Speaker 2:And baby carriers.
Speaker 1:That's some that's you're a mother yeah, you're a mother are we going to change mother's day to birthing day?
Speaker 2:yes it's coming wow, it's coming down the bike, you just wait I can't, I can't handle it.
Speaker 1:No, because I will punch someone right square on the face.
Speaker 2:I mean, if we want to talk about Mother's Day, you don't have to be a birthing mother to be a mother. My grandma did not birth me, but she's my mom, so I'm not saying that.
Speaker 1:She didn't birth the one that spawned you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, my, do you know? Yeah, carrier.
Speaker 1:Right, she could be the carrier birthing.
Speaker 2:Maybe that's a good you know. They do say you are born with your eggs already. Did you know that as a female, is this?
Speaker 1:because easter's this weekend?
Speaker 2:don't get me started on easter, because I do not understand the damn rabbit that shits out eggs. I don't get it. I don't get it.
Speaker 1:I don't think he shits them out, I just think he decorates them.
Speaker 2:But clearly, yeah, with his chocolate starfish you have just ruined Easter for several right now.
Speaker 1:That's the reason for the chocolate bunny, it's Jesus's day.
Speaker 2:You don't eat chocolate.
Speaker 1:All right. On this note, I personally want to thank you for sharing your story by being bold enough to come on here and share that. This is a topic that upsets you. This is a topic that has a real life impact on you, because this is something that you didn't experience in your life, that you're proud of, that challenged you for sure.
Speaker 1:That is clearly stuck with you and you're saddened to see what this opportunity can be taken from other young ladies yeah because you know the benefit that it has, and I think more people should step up and do what's right and stand up for for women and protect them and provide their safety, and I think you did that today, so I appreciate you for that thank you, anything you want to add, I gotta got to go get the baby that sounds good to me she's crying. Until next time, thank you for supporting.
Speaker 2:My American Dream. Go, wash your fucking hands.
Speaker 1:That's it and that's all Biggie Smalls. If you're a Loud, proud American and you find yourself just wanting more, find me on YouTube and Facebook at Loud Proud American, or the Face page, as my mama calls it. If you're a fan of the Graham Cracker, you want to find me on Instagram. Or all the kids are tickety-talking on the TikTok. You can find me on both of those at loud, underscore, proud, underscore American. A big old thank you to the boys from the Gut Truckers for the background beats and the theme song for this year's podcast. If you are enjoying what you're hearing, you can track down the Gut Truckers on Facebook. Just search Gut Truckers. Give them, motherfuckers, a like too. I truly thank you for supporting my American dream. Now go wash your fucking hands, you filthy savage.