New Poll: Most Americans Do Not Want Trans Athletes Competing in Women’s Sports

June 14, 2022  Updated 1:54 P.M. ET

COLLEGE PARK, MD (FLV) –  Most Americans do not want transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll. 

The online poll sampled 1,503 adults between May 4th to May 17th of 2022. The poll found 55% of Americans do not want biological males, who identify as transgender, to compete in women’s high school sports. 

That number was even higher when asked about professional and college sports. The poll showed 58% of Americans did not want transgender athletes who are biologically male to compete in those women’s sports. That number dropped to 49% for youth sports. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” in 2021 that prevents a biological male from competing on a female sports team. Critics have said the law discriminates against transgender athletes and students. 

“Women have fought for decades to have equal opportunities in athletics, and we have to prevent those opportunities from being eroded as is happening in other states. It’s common sense,” DeSantis said.

The Governor also signed a proclamation declaring Virginia swimmer and Sarasota resident Emma Weyant the “rightful winner” of the 2022 NCAA Division 1 championship over transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.

The poll showed that 68% of Americans believe transgender girls would have a competitive advantage over other girls if they were allowed to compete in youth sports. 30% said neither would have an advantage. 

There were 26% of Americans who said the social acceptance of transgender people is “very good” for society, 14% said “somewhat good,” 35% said “neither good nor bad,” 14% said “somewhat bad,” and 11% said “very bad.”