Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., on Tuesday slammed posts on social media about transgender athletes in women's sports.
Durbin was one of the members of Congress who shot NCAA President Charlie Baker at the Capitol. Durbin asked Baker how many athletes there are in the college system, and how many of those athletes are transgender.
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Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., speaks about student loans at the Washington State Capitol on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Baker said there are about 510,000 NCAA athletes, and less than 10 of them are transgender.
“Let's focus on how to actually improve women's sports,” Durbin wrote to X.
The senator faced backlash for his post on X.
Baker took questions from Sens. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) and Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) about transgender women's participation in sports and accommodations for those athletes.
Hawley and Baker sparred over the NCAA's policy allowing transgender athletes to compete on women's teams. Hawley confronted Baker about the NCAA's policy that “transgender student-athletes should be able to use locker room, shower and restroom facilities according to their gender identity.”
NCAA PREZ offers female athletes the burden of using other facilities if they are uncomfortable sharing with trans athletes
Committee Chairman Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at the Capitol on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Baker responded by insisting that other players had the option of finding other accommodations if they were uncomfortable.
“Everyone else should have the opportunity to use other facilities if they wish,” Baker said.
Baker added that NCAA guidelines give institutions and organizations hosting college sporting events, which he refers to as “local residents,” the option to accommodate athletes in any way they see fit. Ta.
“We believe our guidelines give people freedom of choice in how they use our facilities,” Baker said. “We told the locals hosting the tournament that they needed to provide accommodations for the people playing.”
Baker also initially refused to buy into the idea that biological males have a physical advantage over female athletes. Asked by Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) whether transgender athletes would have an advantage, Baker said the idea was debatable.
“There's not a lot of research on it, but it's certainly debatable,” Baker said.
Kennedy posed the question again, asking if Baker didn't think that “biological males have an advantage every time they compete against biological females.”
The NCAA president changed his answer and said, “I think that's your definition, and yes, I agree with you.”
When asked why he and the NCAA haven't taken action on policy changes to prevent transgender participation in women's sports, Baker repeatedly cited federal law and a recent federal court decision that made it possible. did. Kennedy loudly encouraged Baker to do something about it anyway.
NCAA President Charlie Baker speaks during a press conference celebrating the NCAA's 25th anniversary of moving to Indianapolis, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, at NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis. (Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar/USA TODAY NETWORK)
“Why don't you go to Amazon and buy a spine online and stand up for yourself?” Kennedy yelled at Baker.
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Transgender inclusion in women's sports is a major issue in the U.S. The issue has been a major issue in recent years, with Leah Thomas winning a national championship in women's swimming and Blair Fleming helping San Jose State women's volleyball reach the Mountain West Conference Championship. It's getting even bigger.
FOX News' Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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