A new poll shows even most Democrats want to keep biological men out of women’s sports.
Story Snapshot
- 73% of Americans say they are uncomfortable with transgender athletes competing on teams that don’t match their birth sex, according to Pew Research Center.
- 66% of U.S. adults back laws or policies requiring transgender athletes to compete based on their sex at birth.
- Gallup polling shows support for birth-sex-based teams climbed from 62% in 2021 to 69% in recent years.
- Polling shows a majority of Democrats now side with Republicans on the issue, breaking from party leadership.
Pew Poll Shows Deep Discomfort With Trans Athletes
The Pew Research Center released a short study on August 11, 2026, that found 73% of Americans are uncomfortable with transgender athletes competing on sports teams that don’t match their sex at birth. That number covers nearly three out of every four adults surveyed. The finding lines up with an earlier Pew survey from February 2025 showing 66% of adults support laws requiring trans athletes to compete based on their birth sex.
The New York Post reported that the poll found Republicans and Democrats “united on the issue,” a rare moment of agreement in a country split on nearly everything else. For years, Democratic leaders have pushed policies allowing transgender athletes to compete based on gender identity. This poll shows their own voters increasingly disagree with that approach.
Support Crosses Party Lines
Social media reaction to the poll numbers has been loud. One widely shared post broke down the Pew data by party, noting that even a majority of Democrats say they are uncomfortable with transgender athletes competing on teams that don’t match their sex at birth. That detail matters because it shows the issue isn’t just a partisan talking point pushed by conservatives. It reflects a broad, common-sense view most Americans share about fairness in women’s sports.
The debate has spilled into professional sports too. Controversy around WNBA player Sophie Cunningham speaking out on the topic drew national attention, with commentators pointing to the same 73% figure as proof the public backs her stance. The mismatch between activist messaging and everyday public opinion has become impossible for Democratic politicians to ignore heading into future elections.
Years of Polling Show a Clear Trend
This isn’t a one-time snapshot. Gallup found that 62% of Americans in 2021 said transgender athletes should only compete on teams matching their birth sex. That number rose to 69% by 2023 and held steady through 2025. The trend line moves in one direction: toward more Americans wanting sex-based fairness rules in sports, not fewer.
Courts are now catching up to public opinion. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two major cases, Little v. Hecox out of Idaho and West Virginia v. B.P.J., both dealing with state laws barring transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports. Those cases could settle the legal question nationwide, even as public opinion has already made its verdict clear.
Advocacy Groups Push Back, But Offer No New Numbers
Some advocacy organizations continue to argue for full inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, saying exclusion doesn’t protect female athletes and citing legal arguments that separating teams by birth sex could violate anti-discrimination law. A 2020 statement signed by several women’s rights groups called for “full inclusion of transgender people in athletics” and rejected the idea that excluding transgender athletes benefits other women and girls.
Those groups have not released competing polling data to challenge the Pew or Gallup numbers. Their argument rests on legal theory and advocacy statements, not on evidence that the public has shifted their way. Given how consistently the numbers have moved over five years, the gap between activist messaging and voter opinion looks likely to keep growing rather than close.
Sources:
lifesitenews.com, en.wikipedia.org, supremecourt.gov, espn.com
