Tri-City Sun

House Government Operations Committee Chair Brian BeGole has advanced legislation aimed at protecting female athletes in Michigan. House Bills 4066 and 4469, introduced by BeGole, propose prohibiting biological males from participating in girls’ sports, requiring schools to designate sports teams based on participants' sex at birth.

“Women’s sports were created to give female athletes a level playing field to compete and showcase their athletic abilities,” stated BeGole of Antrim Township. He expressed concerns about maintaining fairness and opportunities for female athletes amidst increasing participation by biological males in women's sports.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association currently reviews such cases individually. A recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Title IX mandates the withdrawal of federal funds from educational programs that fail to provide fair athletic opportunities for women and girls. In response, the National Collegiate Athletic Association altered its policies to restrict competition in women’s sports to female student-athletes only.

“Nearly 30 other states have moved to preserve equal athletic opportunities for women and girls and uphold the integrity of fair competition,” BeGole noted. He emphasized the importance of updating Michigan's policies in line with national trends to ensure safety for female athletes competing at youth and high school levels.

The committee received testimony from Payton McNabb, a former high school volleyball player injured during a game against a biological male competitor, and Riley Gaines, a collegiate swimmer advocating for fairness in women's sports.

HBs 4066 and 4469 will now proceed to the House for further consideration.