8 Democrats join GOP in voting to urge MHSAA to ban transgender kids from girls' sports
The Michigan House of Representatives passed a resolution Wednesday strongly urging the Michigan High School Athletic Association to ban transgender girls from girls' sports.
Sixty-six representatives voted for it, including eight Democrats. Forty-three representatives voted against it.
The resolution, which does not carry the weight of law, called on the MHSAA to adhere to President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender women and girls from competing in school sports for women and girls. "Allowing biological males to compete in women's sports in defiance of a federal executive order could put female athletes in Michigan at risk for injury, threatens the safety and fairness of competitions and undermines the intent of Title IX," the resolution read.
The MHSAA evaluates requests by trans athletes on an individual basis. For fall of 2024, two transgender girls participated in high school sports for girls. According to Equality Michigan, an advocacy group for the state's LGBTQ+ community, no trans athletes are signed up to play winter sports or sports for the upcoming spring season.
'We all want sports to be fair and student athletes to be safe," Erin Knott, executive director of Equality Michigan said in a prepared statement released after the resolution's passsage. "That's why the MHSAA already has rules about who can participate in different sports at different levels across a range of issues. They already have a process in place and are experts when it comes to sports in schools. They don't need politicians in Lansing to override their expertise with a one-size-fits-all blanket ban."
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It is unclear if Trump's executive order conflicts with Michigan's anti-discrimination Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act.
Speaking to the Legislature, Jaime Greene, R- Richmond, the resolution's sponsor said: "We should acknowledge that while we are all equal in dignity and rights we are also biologically distinct in ways that are both beautiful and scientifically undeniable. Acknowledging these differences is vital to the fairness and safety of the sports that we hold dear. So the legacy of our grandmothers and mothers who fought tirelessly for our right to stand run and compete as equals on the sports field, that must not be forgotten. They laid that groundwork for a world where a girl's strength is celebrated. It is our duty to protect this legacy for future generations of women athletes."
Rep. Emily Dievendorf, D-Lansing, spoke against the resolution: "I want you to think about what it means to be a kid. Figuring out who you are trying to find a place to belong. Learning confidence through the support of your peers and mentors. ... Now imagine, instead being told by adults, by your own government that you are the problem. That playing sports making friends and being yourself is wrong. That the community meant to support you is, instead, is determined to erase you.
"I know what it is to be a queer kid and it is lonely. I know what it is to be our nonbinary legislator and it is isolating and dehumanizing. This resolution isn't about fairness. It isn't about protecting women's sports. This isn't about safety because there is no threat. There is no threat."
A copy of the resolution will be sent to Trump.
The Democrats who supported the resolution are:
Rep. Albas Farhat, D-Dearborn
Rep. Peter Herzberg, D-Westland
Rep. Tullio Liberati, D-Allen Park
Rep. Denise Mentzer, D-Mt. Clemens
Rep. Reggie Miller, D-Van Buren Twp.
Rep. Will Snyder, D-Muskegon
Rep. Angela Witwer, D-Delta Twp.
Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan House urges ban on transgender kids from girl's sports
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