Thursday’s Feb. 27 Press Herald front page featured a photo of state Rep. Elizabeth Caruso, R-Caratunk, announcing a bill she’s sponsoring on school-age transgender athletes.

Rep. Caruso, at a podium indicating the location is the State House, is surrounded by minor girls, several apparently under age 10. Debate on this bill rightly belongs as an issue for adults within the Legislature. Did each of these children have informed consent to appear with Caruso and know all the long-term, widespread implications of her bill?

At a minimum, Rep. Caruso should excuse herself from the bill’s sponsorship. The Legislature itself should set boundaries for underage children used to promote or oppose bills on our public property. And, Maine newspapers and television should think twice about showing children here and in the White House whose parents and politicians use them as props.

Maureen Ann Connolly
Cumberland