The National Association of Social Workers – Michigan Chapter (NASW-MI) opposes House Bills 4066 and 4469 because they promote discrimination against transgender and non-binary youth, undermining their rights and well-being.
House Bill 4066 mandates that K-12 public schools in Michigan designate athletic teams strictly based on students' biological sex assigned at birth, explicitly prohibiting transgender girls from participating on girls' sports teams.
Michigan Legislature
House Bill 4469 amends the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to permit K-12 educational institutions to base students' athletic participation eligibility solely on their biological sex as listed on their original birth certificate, effectively excluding transgender and non-binary students from participating in sports aligning with their gender identity.
NASW-MI advocates for inclusive policies that affirm the identities and rights of all students. We urge legislators to reject HB 4066 and HB 4469 to ensure that Michigan schools remain safe and supportive environments for every student, regardless of gender identity. This bill has passed the Michigan State House and now heads to the Michigan State Senate, where we believe the bill we not move any further. However, it is important to keep the pressure on our State Legislature and let them know that we oppose these incredibly harmful bills.