Burli Web Server
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Most West Virginians say athletes should only be
allowed to play on sports teams that match their sex at birth.
That’s
according to the latest MetroNews West Virginia Poll, which surveyed 400
registered voters August 20-25. On this question, respondents were asked to pick
which of two statements best express their view.
Sixty-five percent of
respondents said athletes should only be allowed to play on sports teams that
match their sex at birth.
Twenty-three percent said transgender athletes
should be allowed to play on sports teams that match their current gender
identity.
That closely matches the results of a national Gallup poll from
earlier this year, which showed that a majority of Americans (62 percent) say
trans athletes should only be allowed to play on sports teams that correspond
with their sex at birth, while 34 percent said they should be able to play on
teams that match their gender identity.
This year, West Virginia joined
dozens of states placing restrictions on transgender athletes’ participation on
sports teams.
The new law defines male and female “based solely on the
individual’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” It says “any student
aggrieved by a violation of this section may bring an action” against a county
board of education or college “alleged to be responsible for the alleged
violation” — intended to allow lawsuits over anyone contending a transgender
athlete was gaining advantage in sports.
Advocates for the bill said it
would protect young female athletes from competing against stronger athletes who
were born male.
Opponents said the bill is discriminatory, mean-spirited,
a likely turnoff for business investment and a possible conflict with
competition under the NCAA.
The new law is being challenged in U.S.
district court on behalf of a middle schooler who wants to run on the girls
cross country team.
The poll question results were divided along party
lines.
Eighty-one percent of Republican respondents said athletes should
only be allowed to participate on teams matching their sex at
birth.
Forty-eight percent of Democrats also said athletes should only be
allowed to participate on teams matching their sex at birth. Thirty-five percent
of Democrats said transgender athletes should be allowed to play on teams
matching their gender identity. And 17 percent of Democrats said they aren’t
sure.
Among respondents who described themselves as moderates, 63 percent
would limit athletes to sports teams that match their sex at birth, 24 percent
would allow athletes to join teams that match their gender identity and 13
percent say they are not sure.
Among respondents describing themselves as
liberal, 49 percent would allow transgender athletes to join teams that match
their gender identity, 32 percent say participation on sports teams should match
the athlete’s sex at birth and 19 percent don’t know.
Among
conservatives, 86 percent would limit athletes to teams matching their sex at
birth, 7 percent would allow athletes to join teams matching their gender
identity and 7 percent don’t know.
There were slight differences between
the way men and women answered the question.
Sixty-nine percent of men
said athletes should only be allowed to join teams that match their sex at
birth. Sixty percent of women expressed that view, still the majority.