DETROIT - The Michigan House of Representatives passed two pieces of extremely harmful legislation attacking trans youth in our state today.
House Bills 4066 and 4469 would enact a ban on trans girls playing sports. The ACLU of Michigan and those who care about the trans community vehemently oppose these bills. That was clear when hundreds of advocates flooded Lansing last week during Equality Michigan’s Lobby Day, and when the committee room (and the overflow committee room) were packed the next day to testify in opposition to these bills.
We showed up because we will not allow our legislators to attack trans kids to score political points. ALL kids have a right to participate in school sports - to build confidence, camaraderie, and improve educational outcomes.
Prohibiting trans kids from playing sports not only violates their civil rights to be treated equally to all other children - it is just plain wrong. All kids, regardless of their gender identity, deserve love, support, and encouragement.
Michiganders elected our legislature to address the real problems facing our communities; like the need for adequate healthcare, access to housing, and jobs with decent wages. Instead, we saw today that some of those legislators prioritized bullying kids and young people.
All 58 House Republicans voted for both bills, and one Democrat voted for HB 4469. In other words, these House members used their vote to target some of the most vulnerable among us, trans youth. We will continue to show up, speak out, and advocate strongly for the rights of our trans community - and for all whose rights are attacked.
And to those legislators that voted against these bills, we say: stop going after trans kids.
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