Caitlyn Jenner opposes trans girls taking part in all-female sports as she continues bid for Califor

May 2024 · 5 minute read

CAITLYN Jenner said she doesn't believe transgender girls or women should take part in all-female sports as she continues her bid for California Governor.

The former Olympian and trans reality TV star, 71, waded into the controversial topic that has sparked Republican-backed legislation across the US in a brief interview with TMZ on Saturday.

I didn’t expect to get asked this on my Saturday morning coffee run, but I’m clear about where I stand. It’s an issue of fairness and we need to protect girls’ sports in our schools.https://t.co/YODLDQ3csP

— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) May 1, 2021

"This is a question of fairness, that's why I oppose biological boys who are trans competing in girl's sports in school," Jenner told the network.

"It just isn't fair, and we have to protect girls sports in our schools."

When asked if forbidding trans girls from competing against other girls would be “delegitimizing their identity,” Jenner ended the conversation, responding: “Have a good day.”

She later took to Twitter to elaborate on her point of view, writing: "I didn’t expect to get asked this on my Saturday morning coffee run, but I’m clear about where I stand.

"It’s an issue of fairness and we need to protect girls’ sports in our schools," she reiterated.

Jenner's comments come as multiple states recently moved towards banning transgender girls and women from partaking in female sports.

The most recent of which, Florida, last week passed legislation that would restrict entry to girl's sports teams to those who were born female. Transgender female athletes would be limited to playing coed sports or on teams with male athletes.

The bill applies to high school and college sports sponsored by public schools, including intramural and club teams.

The state's GOP Gov. Ron De Santis has indicated that he will sign the bill.

On Wednesday West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed a similar bill, despite threats of protests from sports groups and LGBTQ activists.

In an interview with MSNBC regarding the bill, Justice was unable to cite a single example of a transgender athlete gaining an unfair advantage in sports in his state when pressed by host Stephanie Ruhle.

"Well, Stephanie, I don't have that experience exactly to myself right now," Justice responded.

Trans activists have argued that gender identity, rather than sex, should determine who is allowed in which sports teams.

Members of the LGBTQ community have called such bans cruel and discriminatory.

There are a number of female trans athletes competing in girl's and women's athletics, such as Terry Miller, Andraya Yearwood and Cece Telfer.

Telfer is the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA title, a medal she won in the 400-meter hurdles event in June 2019.

On the other side of the fence, opponents argue that it's unfair that male-born trans women could be allowed entry into female sports, considering the anatomical differences between male and female bodies.

Jenner's stance on the matter is likely to anger the LGBTQ community, a large number of whom have already said they won't be backing her "vanity campaign" to run for California Governor.

The registered Republican, who previously voted for Trump in 2016, is trying to un-seat Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Among those criticizing her for running is Stark Trek actor George Takei, who is gay, who wrote on Twitter that he wanted to be "clear" that he will not be supporting the former track star.

Takei likened Jenner's standing in the LGBTQ community to conservative firebrand Candace Owens in the black community and Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn in the disabled community.

"Black people wouldn't vote for Candace Owens for office," He tweeted, adding a claim that the disabled community "wouldn't vote for Madison Cawthorn."

Much like in Florida and West Virginia, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill into law last Friday seeking to limit trans female participation in women's sports.

Alabamas may also soon face felony charges for providing trans minors with hormone therapy, puberty blockers and surgery.

The measures, coming as part of the state's Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act has  been sent to the House where a companion bill has already passed a committee.

Many other states are pushing for bans on trans athletes competing in women's sports while at the same time introducing bills to prohibit gender-affirming treatment for trans minors.

Meanwhile, in Connecticut - which is just one of 17 states that allow high school athletes to compete in sports according to how they identify without regulation - three cis-female teen track athletes filed a lawsuit to prevent transgender atheletes from competing.

The three girls - Alanna Smith, Selina Soule, and Chelsea Mitchell - claimed they have missed out on placing on award podiums after competing against "biological males."

However that suit was tossed out by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Chatigny last week on procedural grounds.

Chatigny said there was no dispute to resolve because the two transgender athletes they named in the suit have graduated and the plaintiffs could not identify other female transgender athletes regarding their claims.

The lawsuit had been closely watched since the Trump administration’s Justice Department and the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights had sided with the plaintiffs.

But the Biden administration withdrew that support in February.

Conservative lawmakers in more than 20 states have introduced legislation to ban or limit transgender athletes from competing on teams or sports that align with their gender identity.

Laws banning transgender women and girls from participating in organized sports have been signed in Idaho, Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas.

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Jenner won the gold medal at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal as a male decathlete with a then-record score of 8,618 points.

Read More on The US Sun

Then in 2015, she became the most prominent athlete to come out as transgender.

Jenner is due to conduct her first sit-down interview since announcing her California gubernatorial run with Fox News' Sean Hannity on Wednesday.

Caitlyn Jenner spotted wearing 'Caitlyn for California' cap just hours after announcing bid for governor

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