Polls in recent years have clearly shown that a majority of Americans oppose allowing biological men who identify as “transgender” to compete in women’s sports. A Gallup poll released last month confirmed Americans’ views on this issue, and even showed that more Americans now than in 2021 believe that male athletes who consider themselves women should not be allowed to compete in women’s and girls’ disciplines.
This week, a University of Suffolk/USA Today poll found that a majority of Ohioans disagree with allowing transgender athletes to play on women’s sports teams in schools. Additionally, the survey found that a majority of Ohioans do not want children to attend drag queen performances.
An overwhelming majority, 70 percent, told pollsters they “disagree with allowing transgender girls who use hormones to play on girls’ teams.” Only 21 percent said they would support allowing “trans” male athletes to play on women’s school sports teams. Nine percent of respondents were undecided.
When it comes to drag queen performances, 66 percent of Ohioans said such performances should be constrained to people 18 and older. 30% disagreed with this opinion and 4% were undecided.
“It’s a matter of fairness,” said Rep. Jean Schmidt, a Republican Sending Columbus. “I think people on both sides see that. It’s just common sense. We are different. We are different.”
Across political parties, Republicans “overwhelmingly” do not support allowing transgender athletes to play women’s sports, the Dispatch notes. As for Democrats, 45 percent support transgender athletes and 40 percent oppose.
“In practice, that’s what people are talking about,” Rep. Josh Williams, a Republican, told the agency. “When we go into precincts and talk to voters at the door, the overwhelming response is that this should not be allowed.”
Sixty-six percent of survey respondents said drag queen performances should be constrained to people 18 years of age and older. But that number included only 45 percent of Democrats. Fifty-four percent of Ohio Democrats disagreed.
In recent years, many states have passed laws prohibiting male athletes who identify as transgender from competing in women’s sports at the K-12 level. Some states, such as Alabama, have signed laws protecting women’s sports at the college level.
Nationally, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R) and Florida Rep. Greg Steube (R) announced “Protection of Women and Girls in Sport Act 2023“in response to the Biden administration’s push to rewrite Title IX to include the concept of “gender identity.”
“By allowing biological men onto women’s teams and into women’s locker rooms, the woke left is working to completely destroy women’s sports. The best way to counter Biden’s dangerous Title IX change is for Congress to pass the Protecting Women and Girls in Sports Act. Every student, parent, teacher and citizen deserves to know where a member of Congress stands on this issue,” Steube told Townhall after the bill was announced.
“Throughout my coaching career, I have seen the unparalleled success of Title IX and the educational and personal opportunities sports have provided for millions of female athletes. For over 50 years, this law has enabled young women to develop personally, compete professionally and receive scholarships to further their education,” Tuberville added.
