A recent poll conducted by The Center Square and Noble Predictive Insights revealed that most Americans are against allowing biological males who identify as women to compete in women’s sports. The poll, which surveyed 1,000 registered voters across the country, found that only 31% of respondents supported trans inclusion in women’s athletics, while 66% opposed it and 3% were unsure.
Transgender athletes spark controversy and backlash
The issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports has been a source of controversy and backlash in recent years, as more states have enacted laws to ban or restrict their participation. According to the Women’s Liberation Front, a feminist organization that opposes trans inclusion in women’s sports, 23 states have passed or introduced legislation to protect the rights and opportunities of female athletes. The group argues that allowing biological males who identify as women to compete in women’s sports gives them an unfair advantage over biological females and violates Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education.
One of the most prominent cases of transgender athletes in women’s sports is that of Lia Thomas, a swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania who previously competed on the men’s team before transitioning to female. Thomas dominated the women’s swimming events at the NCAA Division I national championship in March 2022, breaking several records and winning seven gold medals. Thomas also exposed herself to female athletes in the locker room without their consent, causing discomfort and distress among her competitors.
NCAA and Biden administration support trans inclusion in women’s sports
Despite the widespread opposition from the public and some female athletes, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Biden administration have expressed their support for trans inclusion in women’s sports. The NCAA has adopted a policy since 2010 that allows transgender athletes to compete in accordance with their gender identity, as long as they meet certain medical requirements. The policy was based on a report written by the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Women’s Sports Foundation, two groups that advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
The Biden administration has also taken steps to promote trans inclusion in women’s sports, by issuing an executive order on his first day in office that instructed federal agencies to interpret Title IX as covering gender identity and sexual orientation. The Department of Education is expected to issue new rules this fall that will prohibit schools from having policies that exclude transgender athletes from women’s sports. The administration claims that this is necessary to protect the civil rights and dignity of transgender students.
Critics say trans inclusion in women’s sports is harmful and unfair
However, critics of trans inclusion in women’s sports say that it is harmful and unfair to biological females, who have different physical characteristics and abilities than biological males. They cite scientific and psychological evidence that shows that biological males have inherent advantages over biological females in terms of muscle mass, bone density, lung capacity, testosterone levels, and other factors that affect athletic performance. They also point out the potential risks of physical and emotional harm to female athletes who have to compete against or share facilities with transgender athletes.
Some critics also question the motives and legitimacy of transgender athletes who claim to identify as women, especially those who transition later in life or have not undergone hormone therapy or surgery. They accuse them of exploiting the system for personal gain or attention, or of having a psychological disorder or fetish. They argue that transgender athletes should compete in their own category or in the men’s category, rather than invading the women’s category and erasing the achievements and opportunities of female athletes.
