Lansing, MI – Local State Representative Nancy Jenkins-Arno attended a press conference this week with fellow Republican women to denounce the Michigan High School Athletic Association for allowing males to participate in female sports.
House Resolution 40, which passed in a House floor vote, calls on the MHSAA to align their eligibility rules with the federal order, Executive Order 14201.
MHSAA has not reversed its transgender participation policy, previously saying they’re awaiting clarification on potential legal conflicts between the order and Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act…. which protects against discrimination based on gender identity and other protected categories.
Local State Senator Joe Bellino has also called on the organization to reconsider its decision. Bellino said that failure to protect girls’ sports could also be a violation of Title Nine and jeopardize federal support.
MLive.com reports that MHSAA receives no government funding and schools do not pay membership dues to belong…and they make the majority of the nonprofit’s revenue from ticket sales at MHSAA tournaments.
Currently, the organization allows transgender girls to compete in female sports with a waiver. Waivers aren’t required to compete on boys’ teams. The resolution passed by a 66-43 vote with all Republicans and eight Democrats in favor.
Quotes from Rep. Jenkins-Arno:
“Biological differences between males and females are undeniable, and in sports, these differences create a dangerous and uneven playing field,” said Jenkins-Arno. “Allowing boys to play in girls’ sports is not only unfair, but extremely dangerous. There have been real stories of females being injured for life due to an injury created by a biological male in a sport.”
“It is hard to believe that this is even up for debate,” said Jenkins-Arno. “The bi-partisan resolution we passed yesterday is pro-woman. We are standing up for all girls and their right to fair and safe competition. They work hard for their sport, and they deserve for that to be recognized, not compromised. I am proud to stand next to strong fellow women as we challenge MHSAA to reconsider their stance.”
Quotes from Senator Bellino:
“Fair competition is vitally important to protecting opportunities for girls and ensuring a level playing field,” wrote Bellino, R-Monroe, in his letter to MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl. “As a father to three daughters and a grandfather to six grandchildren, this issue is personal for me. I know how important it is to provide safe environments for our children and for parents to have a say in these decisions.
“Every girl deserves a fair opportunity to compete, and every parent deserves to know their kids are being protected.”
“By allowing biological men to participate in girls’ sports, MHSAA is putting schools at risk of losing federal funding that supports essential extracurricular activities and programs for all students,” Bellino said. “We stand with our female student-athletes, and we hope the MHSAA will do the same.”
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