WASHINGTON, D.C. (Michigan News Source) – Despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling centered on Title IX, males will continue to compete on female high school sports teams in Michigan unless the state Legislature changes the law.

That’s according to the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), the governing body for high school sports in the state. Earlier this week, the high court ruled 6-3 that laws in Idaho and West Virginia banning men and boys from competing in female sports do not violate Title IX, the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination in education.

Geoff Kimmerly, director of communications for the MHSAA, told Michigan News Source that the policy is governed by state law.

“Our current policy for transgender eligibility is required by the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act,” Kimmerly said. “The MHSAA policy follows this state law, so any change would need to come from our state Legislature and state government.”

On Wednesday, State Senator Thomas Albert (R-Lowell) followed up on existing bills that would address this issue. “I am calling on the Michigan Senate to take up House Bills 4066 and 4469 because girls’ sports should be protected,” Albert said in a Facebook post. “These bills would require public school districts and academies to designate sports teams based on the biological birth sex of the participants. This is an issue of athletic fairness, opportunity and safety for our girls.”

In addition, GOP gubernatorial candidate John James made his own statement on X, saying “That ends in 6 months when I’m Governor.”

In March 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning men from competing in women’s sports. Michigan Republicans then urged the MHSAA to follow the president’s lead and keep men out of women’s sports.

The MHSAA said it has a waiver process that allows students to request eligibility to participate in girls’ sports, but only those who apply are known to the association.