Remember when a GOP lawmaker was left speechless when asked if he’s trans during a hearing?

Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM

He huffed about how the question wasn’t “appropriate” even though his bill would result in kids being asked that same question.

A Republican state rep from Michigan testifying about his anti-trans sports bill on Monday was left speechless after an out Democratic colleague began his questioning by asking, “Representative, can you tell me: are you trans?”

A long beat staring down out gay Democratic state Rep. Mike McFall followed, before state Rep. Jason Woolford (R) managed to reply, “Are you?”

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He swallowed following the weak, two-word retort.

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“I asked you the question,” McFall responded.

“I’m asking the question back to you,” Woolford countered, as he regained some of his balance after McFall’s first volley.

But Woolford never fully recovered before the committee chair, state Rep. Brian BeGole (R), moved on to the next speaker.

In between — as BeGole gaveled his displeasure with McFall’s line of questioning — the out rep managed to make his point.

“I’m actually going somewhere with this,” he said to lawmakers in the small chamber.

“Because I want to know, how does a 14-year-old girl prove whether or not she’s trans to a 50-year-old coach?”

“I don’t think that’s an appropriate question to be asking here today,” BeGole said, shutting McFall down.

The damage was done, however, and it was etched in Woolford’s crimson expression.

The moment was a win for Democrats opposed to the two anti-trans measures under consideration by the Republican-dominated committee, although they both passed and now move on to a vote in the Republican-led House. Democrats control Michigan’s Senate.

Both bills target trans youth.

House Bill 4066 would ban trans girls from women’s sports, making eligibility to compete based on “sex” at birth as recorded on a birth certificate.

House Bill 4469 would amend Michigan law to state it “does not prohibit” segregation in sports based on “sex.”

Together, the two bills would preclude trans girls from competing in women’s and girls’ sports in Michigan.

Woolford has promoted himself as an anti-trans crusader.

In March, he introduced House Bill 4190, which would ban gender-affirming care and hormone therapies for minor patients. He drew a line directly to the president’s win in swing state Michigan in November, declaring voters had rejected “radical transgender ideology.”

“From the State House to the White House, we are saying that we will no longer allow our daughters and women to be taken advantage of by insecure men, haters of women, radical transgender ideology and those who choose to stand in silence,” Woolford said at a press conference promoting his discriminatory legislation.

This month, Michigan Republicans introduced a three-bill package that includes Woolford’s gender-affirming care prohibition, legislation penalizing medical providers for the practice, and forcing insurers to cover so-called “detransition” procedures.

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