Nik Rajkovic / news@whmi.com

As expected, State Rep. Jason Woolford's bill banning biological males from playing girls' high school sports in Michigan was passed out of committee Thursday morning.

"The Michigan High School Athletic Association has admitted they are currently allowing biological males to compete in women sports divisions here in our state," the Howell Republican testified.

"Their defiance of federal directives prohibiting males in women sports is both insane and dangerous."

Rep. Woolford brought in a pair of high-profile women sports advocates to testify in support of HBs 4066 and 4469.

One was former North Carolina high school volleyball player Payton McNabb, a guest at President Donald Trump's address to Congress earlier this year, who suffered a traumatic brain injury when struck by a ball during a match against a transgender player.

"Women deserve to compete on a level playing field without fear of injuries," said McNabb. "This is why it is crucial you pass House Bill 4066 to prevent other female athletes from suffering injuries such as my own."

Former college swimmer Riley Gaines testified via pre-recorded video.

"Michigan currently has no protections for female sports," she said. "HB 4066 ensures female opportunities, rights and safety are a priority."

Despite recent polling showing roughly 80 percent in support of such a ban, scores of civil rights advocates and others testified against the bills.

"These bills are not just discriminatory, they are dangerous. They contribute to a harmful and false narrative about transgender girls," said Alexandra Stamm, education policy analyst at the Michigan League for Public Policy.

"Transgender youth, like all young people, deserve the opportunity to thrive both in the classroom and in school-sponsored activities and athletics."

The ACLU of Michigan also has come out against the bills.

"These bills create a system of exclusion based on gender identity, effectively barring transgender girls from participating in sports aligned with their gender identity," said Kyle Zawacki, the group's legislative director.

"This is a blatant violation of the principals of equality enshrined in the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Michigan's own Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act."

Others argued the MHSAA has only granted permission to a handful of trans athletes, among the thousands of Michigan's high school athletes, meaning the legislation is overreach.

"Gun violence is a large epidemic in this country, but I don't see addressed in the proposed policy that will keep women and girls safe in school. Affordable housing is not addressed in these policies to make sure these kids have roofs over their heads," said Emme Zanotti, senior director of movement building & political affairs for Equality Michigan.

The legislation ultimately cleared the House Government Operations Committee by a 3-2 vote, and now heads to the full House for discussion.

Rep. Woolford's legislation and video of the committee meeting also are linked below.