Hope Walz, daughter of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, recently gained attention for her TikTok videos criticizing President Trump's executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in women's and girls' sports. In her initial video, Walz labeled the order a "dangerous precedent" posing a threat to the transgender community, women, minorities, and anyone who isn't a "straight white man." She questioned the order's motives, suggesting it was a political maneuver rather than a genuine concern for women's safety.
Walz further argued that the issue of transgender athletes in women's sports is "not real," stating she has never felt unsafe around transgender individuals, but has felt unsafe around men. In a subsequent video, she implied that several members of Trump's Cabinet face "credible allegations," and claimed the number of Cabinet members with such allegations exceeds the number of transgender athletes in high school sports. She did not specify the allegations or the individuals involved.
However, a United Nations study contradicts Walz's assertion, revealing that almost 900 biological female athletes have lost victories to transgender competitors. The study, titled "Violence against women and girls in sports," reported that over 600 female athletes were denied medals in more than 400 competitions across 29 sports, resulting in over 890 lost medals as of March 30. The report highlights the displacement of female athletes due to the integration of mixed-sex categories in sports.
During the 2024 election, Tim Walz, as Kamala Harris's running mate, openly supported transgender and LGBTQ+ rights. The issue of transgender athletes in women's sports became a significant factor in the election, which Harris and Walz ultimately lost. Post-election, an exit poll conducted by the Concerned Women for America revealed that 70% of moderate voters considered Trump's stance on transgender athletes in sports and bathrooms important. Six percent deemed it the most crucial issue, while 44% considered it "very important."
Furthermore, a New York Times/Ipsos survey indicated that a majority of Americans, including Democrats, oppose transgender athletes competing in women's sports. Seventy-nine percent of the 2,128 respondents disagreed with biological males identifying as women participating in women's sports. Even among Democrats and Democrat-leaning individuals, 67% held this view.
Minnesota, Walz's home state, is among those defying Trump's executive order. The Minnesota State High School League confirmed its continued allowance of transgender athletes to compete with girls, citing the Minnesota Human Rights Act and the state constitution, which protect LGBTQ+ individuals. California has also refused to comply, sparking protests and legal threats.
