In a clip shared by lawyer Olayemi Olurin on Friday (1 November), vice-presidential hopeful Butch Ware can be heard calling trans women 'biological males', saying: "I don't think biological males should play in female sports. It gives an unfair competitive advantage." This statement sparked criticism as it emphasizes a controversial view not widely supported by scientific evidence.
The study, partly funded by the International Olympic Committee, and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in April, suggested that, while trans athletes have shown promise in grip strength, they performed worse in cardiovascular tests, indicating that the notion of inherent biological advantage may not hold up in practice.
Ware, an associate professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who joined Stein's ticket in August, faced backlash not only for his comments regarding sports but also for supporting a national ban on abortion, which raised concerns about his impact on Democratic voter support.
The term 'biological males' is often used as an anti-trans dog whistle to legitimize the misgendering of trans men and women, further complicating the narrative around inclusion and fairness in sports.
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