Bills spark debate over trans athletes in women's sports
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – A Thursday meeting at the Michigan Capitol is sparking heated discussion over two new bills that would ban biological males from women's sports. The House Government Operations Committee held a hearing on them Thursday morning.
The bills up for discussion are House Bills and . Supporters say the goal of the legislation is to protect the safety and well-being of young girls.
'This is not about putting anyone down. This is about lifting up our young girls who have dreams,' said State Representative Rylee Linting (R-Grosse Ile). '[It's about] making sure they have a level playing field, that they're not robbed of scholarship opportunities, a spot on the team, or worse, seriously injured.'
However, others believe it would lead to dangerous discrimination against transgender students.
'We should want more young people to play sports in our state, not put up more barriers for all girls like invasive inspections and ridicule about what gender they are because their hair is too short, they're too tall, their shoulders are too broad, or because they have a good serve,' said Emme Zanotti, Senior Director of Movement Building & Political Affairs with Equality Michigan.
HB 4066 would require single-sex sports teams, while HB 4469 would allow schools to determine a child's eligibility in athletics based on the biological sex listed on their birth certificate.
'Together, these bills would cause a host of issues,' said Kyle Zawacki, Legislative Director with ACLU of Michigan. 'They would violate equal protection principles, require an invasion of medical privacy, undermine civil rights protections, and suppress both speech and advocacy'.
The Michigan High School Athletics Association currently allows two biological males to compete in female sports. Supporters say this should not be allowed.
Payton McNabb, a former high school athlete, shared her experience playing volleyball against a biological male and getting hit by a spiked ball.
'I'm still suffering a little over two years later,' said McNabb. 'I got hit directly in the face and got knocked unconscious…They explained I had a concussion, permanent whiplash, and a small brain bleed.'
Opponents say the legislation could lead to invasions of medical privacy and affect the mental and emotional well-being of transgender students.
'Transgender youth, like all young people, deserve the opportunity to thrive both in the classroom and in school-sponsored activities and athletics,' said Alexandra Stamm, Education Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy. 'Athletic participation is also linked to improved mental health and positive perceptions of school climate. This is especially important for our transgender youth who support higher rates of bullying as well as increased symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to their peers'.
Supporters of the bills say they will ensure safety and fairness in girls' sports, while others believe they will cause lasting adverse effects for transgender youth. The bills have been referred to a second hearing before moving to the House floor for a vote.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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