LANSING, MI— Today, Independent Women applauds the Michigan Government Operations Committee for passing House Bill 4066, which prevents men from competing in women’s sports. The passage followed powerful testimonies from Payton McNabb and Riley Gaines on the harms women and girls, like them, have suffered due to policies that radicalize sports in the name of “inclusion” and the importance of advancing legal protections for women’s and girls’ sports, fair play, safety, and security.
HB 4066 builds upon federal momentum on this issue, including President Trump’s executive order to save women’s sports and reflects national bipartisan consensus. 83% of American voters agree when it comes to athletics, there are important reasons to separate the sexes. The bill is sponsored by 30 state legislators and would put an end to men competing in women’s sports in Michigan.
The primary bill sponsor Rep. Jason Woolford (District 50) said, “From the White House to here in the Statehouse, Republicans are working to protect young women from the radical transgender ideology invading female athletics. We are going to stop men from invading women’s private spaces, ruining their sports and endangering their physical safety.”
During her testimony, Independent Women sports ambassador and former high school athlete Payton McNabb, said:
“House Bill 4066 protects women and girls against sex-discrimination and safeguards them from the horrific incidents female athletes have suffered due to inaction at the state level. To date, 2,012 female athletes have lost opportunities to males, and 2,789 medals have been stolen from women by men. House Bill 4066 appropriately recognizes that equality is not a game and women deserve safe and fair competitions.
“Thank you to Rep. Woolford for introducing this common-sense legislation to ensure equal athletic opportunity for the over 5 million women and girls in Michigan. I urge Michigan to follow suit with the 27 other states that have stood with women and saved women’s sports by passing House Bill 4066.”
During her testimony, Riley Gaines, said:
“As you’ve heard, the inclusion of men in women’s sports led to Payton suffering a traumatic brain injury. This is not just devastating, it’s unacceptable. Since Payton’s experience, countless other female athletes have been harmed because of radical gender ideology. Thankfully, there is a solution: Pass laws that prevent men from playing in women’s sports. Pass House Bill 4066.”
If passed and signed into law, HB 4066 would ensure Michigan follows the 27 other states that already have protections for female sports.
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