Biden’s International Women’s Day Post Sparks Backlash Over Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports
Former President Joe Biden’s recent post on X celebrating International Women’s Day has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with many Americans pointing to his administration’s policies regarding transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. The controversy highlights a deep divide in the nation over inclusivity, fairness, and the definition of womanhood, potentially impacting the Democratic Party’s standing in upcoming elections.
Biden’s message, intended to celebrate women’s achievements and advocate for their equality, read, "Like so many of you, I’m celebrating the incredible women in my life today. International Women’s Day is a time to recognize the achievements of women and girls everywhere and recommit our efforts to advance dignity, opportunity, and equality for all. When women and girls succeed, communities, economies, and democracies succeed."
However, this seemingly innocuous message was met with a wave of disapproval, primarily centered on the perception that Biden’s policies have undermined the very women he sought to celebrate. Critics argued that allowing transgender athletes, specifically biological males who identify as women, to compete in women’s sports unfairly disadvantages cisgender women and girls, jeopardizing their opportunities and eroding the integrity of female athletics.
The criticism stems from a series of actions taken during Biden’s presidency that critics say facilitated the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. On his first day in office, Biden signed an executive order titled "Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation." While intended to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination, critics argue that the order’s broad language paved the way for the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, potentially overlooking concerns about fair competition.
Further fueling the controversy, Biden’s administration attempted to rewrite Title IX, a landmark civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal funding. The proposed changes aimed to expand the definition of "sex" to include gender identity, potentially requiring schools to allow transgender athletes to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity. Critics argued that this rewrite would effectively erase sex-based distinctions in sports, forcing cisgender women to compete against biological males who may possess inherent physical advantages.
The administration also faced accusations of attempting to punish states that enacted their own measures to restrict transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. These states argued that their policies were necessary to protect fairness and equal opportunities for cisgender female athletes.
Following Biden’s departure from office, Democratic lawmakers in Congress and state governments have continued to advocate for policies supporting transgender rights, often clashing with Republican efforts to address the issue of transgender athletes in sports.
The backlash against Biden’s International Women’s Day post was swift and widespread. U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, highlighted the partisan divide on the issue by sharing a screenshot of the House of Representatives vote on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which aimed to prevent biological males from competing in women’s sports. The bill was opposed by a majority of Democrats in the House and later filibustered in the Senate.
XX-XY Athletics, a sportswear brand dedicated to protecting female athletes from transgender inclusion, directly criticized Biden, accusing him of "eroding" women’s rights.
Individual X users also voiced their concerns. One user wrote, "They don’t succeed when men take over their spaces," while another questioned, "Is that why you humiliated our women by putting men in women’s sports? Asking for my Sisters and Daughters? Or do you even know you did it?" Another user asked Biden, "What is a woman? Is your way to celebrate it by letting men into women’s sports? Taking away the identity of actual women?"
The issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports has become a significant point of contention, raising complex questions about fairness, inclusion, and the rights of both transgender and cisgender individuals.
In March 2023, Democrats advocated for a transgender bill of rights, proposing a resolution recognizing the federal government’s duty to develop and implement such a bill. The resolution specifically called for federal law to ensure that biological males can participate in sports on teams and in programs that best align with their gender identity and use school facilities that best align with their gender identity.
In April 2023, Biden’s Department of Education proposed a rule change that would have punished schools for preventing transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. The proposed rule, titled "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance: Sex-Related Eligibility Criteria for Male and Female Athletic Teams," would have effectively outlawed individual states from banning participation in single-sex sports based on gender identity rather than biological sex.
As of April 2024, 23 states had legislation in place to restrict transgender athletes from competing as females in public school sports.
In April 2024, Biden issued a sweeping Title IX rewrite that issued a ban on sex discrimination in schools based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy or related conditions. The rule, which took effect Aug. 1, stated for the first time that discrimination based on sex includes conduct related to a person’s gender identity.
The rewrite prompted legal challenges from more than two dozen attorneys general, who argued that it would conflict with their state laws that block transgender students from participating in women’s sports.
The Supreme Court ultimately struck down an emergency request by Biden to enforce the rewrite in states that defied it.
The controversy surrounding Biden’s policies on transgender athletes has the potential to significantly impact the Democratic Party’s prospects in future elections. Some observers believe that his stance on the issue contributed to his party’s losses in the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives.
A national exit poll conducted by the Concerned Women for America legislative action committee found that a significant percentage of moderate voters considered the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports to be important to their voting decisions.
Following President Donald Trump’s return to office, he signed an executive order banning trans athletes in women’s and girls sports. However, many Democrat-led states have refused to comply with the order, despite polling showing that most Democrats are opposed to it.
A recent New York Times/Ipsos survey revealed that the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, do not believe transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women’s sports. The survey found that 79% of respondents believe that biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women’s sports, and 67% of Democrats or those leaning Democrat shared this view.
The debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports is likely to continue to be a contentious issue in the coming years, with significant implications for politics, sports, and society as a whole. It highlights the ongoing struggle to balance the principles of inclusivity and fairness while respecting the rights and concerns of all individuals.
