These Two Democrats Voted to Ban Transgender Athletes in Women's Sports
Democrats on Tuesday voted in support of legislation that would bar transgender girls from participating in girls' and womens' sports.Republicans emphasized the issue of transgender inclusion in sports during the 2024 election, putting Democrats, who have embraced LGBTQ+ rights, on the defense.Americans hold complex views on gender and sexual orientation issues.
While many polls shows acceptance for LGBTQ+ rights has generally increased over the past 20 years, most Americans are less supportive of transgender girls and women participating in women's sports.
A Gallup poll from May 2023 found that 69 percent of Americans believe transgender people should play on teams that match their sex assigned at birth.The vote on Tuesday forced Democrats, including those representing conservative districts, to take a recorded position on whether they think transgender women and girls should be playing in women's sports, an issue that Republicans are likely to focus on again in 2026 midterms.The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would ban schools receiving federal funding from allowing transgender girls and women playing on women's sports teams, essentially keeping them from participating in sports at most institutions.Democratic Representatives Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, both of Texas, voted against the legislation.
Democratic Representative Don Davis, of North Carolina, voted present.Cuellar and Gonzalez both represent South Texas Congressional districts that were previous Democratic strongholds that voted for Trump in the 2024 election amid nationwide rightward shifts among Hispanic voters.
