On Sunday, Oct. 13, the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board wrote that transgender athletes in sports is now a sleeper issue in the 2024 election. The article noted three specific U.S. Senate races where the topic is key: Ohio, Montana and Wisconsin.
The issue is currently controversial in college sports. Nearly a half-dozen teams have forfeited their women’s volleyball matches against San Jose State University because the university has a transgender woman on the team. The player was born a male but identifies as a woman.
One opponent said their team demands a right to safety and fair competition, and they refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes.
A 2023 Gallup poll found that 93% of Republican respondents believe transgender athletes should only be allowed to compete on teams that match their birth gender, compared to 6% who said they should be allowed to compete on teams that match their current identity.
Meanwhile, 48% of Democrat respondents said transgender athletes should only play on teams that match their birth gender and 47% said they should play on teams that match their current identity.
In a town hall that is set to air on Fox News, former President Donald Trump said he would ban or stop transgender women from playing girls sports.
As for Vice President Kamala Harris, the group Advocates for Trans Equality has endorsed her, saying she has shown an unwavering commitment to advancing the well-being of the transgender community.