Rep. Jennifer Wortz, a Republican representing Hillsdale, speaks at a March 13 press conference. Courtesy | Michigan House Republicans

The standoff continues between Michigan lawmakers and the Michigan High School Athletic Association as Republicans lead a push to enforce President Donald Trump’s recent executive order banning biological men from competing in women’s sports.

But the MHSAA remains unmoved, saying it will await further guidance before taking any action on the president’s order.

Republican members of the Michigan House of Representatives — with the support of eight Democrats — adopted House Resolution 40 last week, pushing MHSAA to “promptly align its eligibility rules for high school athletes with Executive Order 14201 to preserve the integrity of competition and the safety of our female athletes.”

State Rep. Jennifer Wortz, R-Quincy, co-sponsored the resolution introduced by State Rep. Jaime Greene, R-Richmond. 

“When boys compete in girls’ sports, they seize an unfair advantage and rob girls of their victories,” Wortz said at a March 13 press conference. “The MHSAA should defend our girls and their chances to excel and win.”

The resolution, although it bears no legal power, comes after Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., strongly supported the withdrawal of federal funding from athletic programs in light of noncompliance. 

“The next step will be enacting a punishment on them. If they want to do it, fine,” Walberg said on “The Steve Gruber Show.” “But the federal revenues that come to them, at the very least for their athletic programs that are commingled or used in the athletic programs, I would recommend that they be withdrawn.”

Michigan State Sen. Joe Bellino, a Republican who represents part of Hillsdale County and Southeast Michigan, told The Collegian “schools will be punished” if they refuse to comply with the executive order.

For a transgender student to participate in sports, schools must get waivers from MHSAA. Two students were given waivers in the fall, and none in the spring, according to Bellino.

Although the state House recently adopted the resolution, the Democrat-controlled Michigan Senate is unlikely to follow suit with the House, according to Bridge Michigan.

“Their [Democrats’] reasoning is, ‘It was only two high schoolers this year,’” Bellino said. “My question to the Democrats is this: If it’s only one person whose civil rights were violated, would you say, ‘Don’t worry, it’s only one?’ No, you wouldn’t.”