Theis introduces bill to protect female sports

Theis introduces bill to protect female sports

LANSING, Mich.—Legislation introduced by Sen. Lana Theis on Wednesday would require Michigan schools to only permit students of the same biological sex to compete against one another in school-sanctioned gender specific athletics.

“As a society, we fought for generations to ensure girls and women, through Title IX, have an equal opportunity to compete in athletics on a level playing field,” said Theis, R-Brighton. “Sadly, today, identity politics threatens all that was sacrificed and gained. Across our country, biological females are losing opportunities at titles, records, scholarships and, at times, participation itself.

“Something must be done to preserve the legacy of Title IX — a staple of American society. So, very simply, my bill will ensure that, in school sports in Michigan, student athletes will compete against one another according to their biological sex — females against females, and males against males.”

Senate Bill 218 would require Michigan school districts to establish and maintain a policy that satisfies both of the following:

  • If the school designates a team as a girls’, women’s, or female team, a requirement that each pupil who competes for a position on that team or who is selected to compete on that team must be female based on biological sex; and
  • If the school designates a team as a boys’, men’s, or male team, a requirement that each pupil who competes for a position on that team or who is selected to compete on that team must be male based on biological sex.

The bill defines biological sex as “the physical condition of being male or female as determined by an individual’s chromosomes and anatomy as identified at birth.”

The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Career Readiness for consideration.

###

 

 

 

 

Skip to content