Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has declared his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, has broken with the majority of his party on the issue of allowing biological men to compete in all-female sports competitions on the high school and collegiate levels.
Kennedy Jr. said in a CNN interview broadcast Saturday that biological males competing as women undermine gains made by female athletes.
“I am against people participating in women’s sports who are biologically male,” the son of the former New York senator said. “I think women have worked too hard to develop women’s sports over the past 30 years. I watched it happen, and I don’t think that’s fair.”
Last week, the House approved the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a bill that aims to prevent biological males from participating as transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports at schools nationwide. During the debate, some Democrats accused Republicans of “bullying” transgender students by bringing up the bill.
The legislation passed with 219-203 votes, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting against. However, President Biden has stated that he would veto the bill if it were to reach his desk.
Earlier this week, a Republican Senator, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, attempted to pass legislation in the Senate that would prevent biological males from competing as transgender athletes on girls’ and women’s sports teams in schools and universities. However, the attempt was blocked by a Democrat.
“Tuberville noted that he started out as a girls basketball coach and saw firsthand how important Title IX was in giving girls and women opportunities in sports,” Fox News reported.
Former All-American swimmer from the University of Kentucky, Riley Gaines, expressed her strong disapproval following Biden’s pledge to veto the legislation.
During an interview with Fox News Digital on Monday, shortly after the White House issued a statement criticizing the measure, Gaines argued that Biden’s commitment to vetoing the bill was proof that he was prioritizing a “radical minority” over women all over the nation.
“The President has declared that science, truth, and common sense no longer matter. In opposing this bill, President Biden is catering to a radical minority at the expense of women, who are 51% of the population,” Gaines told the news outlet.
“Equal opportunity, privacy, and safety in our sports shouldn’t be controversial. The women who once advocated for Title IX should be outraged as this goes against everything they fought for. Female athletes of all ages, levels, and sports deserve better,” she added.
