If you read the mainstream news, you’d think that virtually every U.S. citizen is all in on biological men competing against women and girls in organized athletics. The trend has grown markedly in recent years, with people who were born male entering women’s rugby, cycling, weightlifting, swimming contests—even poker tournaments.
But it turns out that the average American citizen is not supportive of the trend, at least according to a Gallup poll conducted in June which shows that almost 70 percent do not think it’s fair. The numbers have been rising:
The polling showed an increase from 62 percent in 2021 to 69 percent of Americans in 2023 who believe athletes should only play on teams that match their birth gender, according to a survey conducted by Gallup. In tandem, in 2021, 34 percent of Americans said transgender athletes should be allowed to play on teams that match their current gender identity, while in 2023, only 26 percent held that belief.
Former Kentucky star swimmer Riley Gaines, who we’ve covered extensively, said that the more we see women and girls getting injured and losing out on opportunities to men, the more the public’s disapproval will grow.
“While this should never have become a political issue, there are very few issues that the majority of the general public can agree on, but this is one of them,” Gaines said. “The pendulum has swung too far, and people are beginning to see what’s at stake if it continues.”
“The percentage of Americans who disagree with allowing men to compete in women’s sports will only increase, but unfortunately, more girls will be injured, exploited in a locker room, and lose out on opportunities in the meantime,” she added.
Gaines has become an active voice in opposing men in women’s sports, and many young female athletes look up to her:
It’s messages like this that remind me what and who we’re fighting for
14-yrs old is too young to be worried about whether or not only women are playing in women’s sports. pic.twitter.com/evOsUhDcF9
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) September 15, 2023
See:
The number of people who question the morality of changing one’s gender has also risen:
In addition, the Gallup survey asked about Americans’ views on the transgender population more generally, which found that 55 percent consider changing one’s gender to be morally wrong, while 43 percent said it was morally acceptable. In 2021, 51 and 46 percent of Americans answered the same question, respectively.
Not surprisingly, younger people tend to view transgenderism more favorably, with 60 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds feeling it was morally acceptable to change genders. Only 32 percent of Americans aged 50 and older hold that view.
Gallup issued a statement that said the majority of people uncomfortable with men playing women’s sports felt the competitive advantage biological males have makes it unfair:
“It appears that Americans view transgender sports participation more through a lens of competitive fairness than transgender civil rights,” Gallup stated in its press release. “Even Democrats, who mostly support LGBTQ+ rights and affirm the morality of gender change, are divided on the issue of whether transgender athletes should be allowed to participate on teams that match their gender identity rather than birth gender.”
As more and more states pass laws banning biological males from competing in women’s sports, it’s clear that this is going to remain a hot-button issue for the foreseeable future. The Biden administration has generally supported the idea that an athlete should be able to compete based on their chosen gender identity instead of the gender they were assigned at birth.
Here’s U.S. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, who’s transgender, saying that the laws are “politically motivated”:
Rachel Levine says that transgender children “have more mental health issues from harassment and bullying” but that there should no limits on the ability for minors to go through dangerous sex changes or for boys to play girl’s sports. pic.twitter.com/Fl2zNrNw4M
— American Principles 🇺🇸 (@approject) July 18, 2022
