In recent years, many polls have shown that the majority of Americans oppose allowing biological males who identify as “transgender” to compete in women’s sports.
In June 2022, Townhall reported how a poll conducted by The Washington Post and the University of Maryland found that the majority of Americans – 55 percent – believe in separating sports by biological sex. A separate poll published by Pew Research found that 58 percent of Americans favor requirements for transgender athletes to compete on sports teams that align with their biological sex.
And, this year, a poll conducted by Gallup found that a larger majority (69 percent) of Americans than in 2021 (62 percent) say that transgender athletes should only be allowed to participate on sports teams that align with their biological sex. And, fewer Americans, 26 percent say that transgender athletes should be permitted to play on teams that align with their gender identity, down from 34 percent.
However, researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee reportedly said that transgender males should be allowed to compete in women’s sports at school and at the college level to “boost their mental health,” according to multiple reports (via Daily Mail):
Researchers at Vanderbilt University, Tennessee, said participating in sports had many benefits, including boosting mental health, self-esteem and lowering the risk of obesity and chronic diseases.
They advocated for trans people to be allowed to compete in their desired gender category at elementary, middle, high school and college. But they admitted competitive sports were a different matter because participants had invested their whole careers in the game.
They warned that a wave of 22 bans on transgender athletes at schools and colleges was harming the mental and physical health of the group and discouraging them from competing in sports.
In an interview, lead author and sports medicine expert Dr Alexander Sin said: 'Does it matter who gets a medal at a third-grade competition?'
[...]
They said primary care sports medicine physicians, pediatricians and families should take an 'active role' in promoting this.
Townhall previously covered how “transgender” swimmer Will “Lia” Thomas robbed women of awards and opportunities after he began competing on the women’s swim team at the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, he swam on the men’s team for three years.
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Paula Scanlan, one of Thomas’ teammates, came forward in an interview this year with Matt Walsh about how uncomfortable she felt sharing a locker room with Thomas.
“It [the locker room] was uncomfortable. I did notice a few girls – there’s a few bathroom stalls in the bathroom – and I did notice some girls changing in the bathroom stalls for practice, which I’ve never really seen that before,” Scanlan said. “For me personally, the biggest thing was, when you’re changing, there’s all these people talking in the background, all these women’s voices, and then all of a sudden you hear a man’s voice. I’d always kind of jump a little bit [hearing Thomas’ voice].”
“There was something going on in that athletic department that wanted to keep us quiet. And I was like, ‘this is getting scary,’” Scanlan explained. She said that girls were told in a meeting, without Thomas present, “do not talk to the media, you will regret it.”
“Another thing they said is, ‘Lia’s swimming is non-negotiable,’ and then they provided us with counseling services to help us be okay with Lia swimming,” she added. “I was petrified.
