Democrats Absent from Senate Hearing on Protecting Women's Sports
Several Democratic senators either did not attend or left early from a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, drawing criticism from Republican colleagues and witnesses.
Most Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee were absent for a hearing convened Wednesday to discuss the protection of women's sports, particularly concerning the participation of transgender athletes. Only Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., initially attended, but both departed within the first hour. The committee did not call any witnesses from the Democratic side.
Senator Durbin, in his opening remarks, stated his refusal to treat the hearing as a "responsible exercise of this committee." He indicated he would not ask questions and had not called witnesses. Durbin's office later stated that his position was fully explained in his opening statement.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters he missed the hearing due to a classified briefing on the Iran war. When asked about his stance on protecting women's sports, Blumenthal declined to comment in the hallway.
Out of all ten Democratic members approached for comment regarding their absence, only Senator Durbin's office responded. In his remarks, Durbin raised concerns about the LGBTQ community, citing a Trevor Project study on higher suicide risks among young LGBTQ+ individuals. He also voiced apprehension regarding potential sex verification measures for female athletes, describing them as a "vendetta" against a small segment of the transgender community and potentially impacting cisgender girls.
Republicans present at the hearing expressed disappointment over the Democratic absence. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., stated he was "a little disappointed" his Democratic colleagues left, though he acknowledged it was their right. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., also voiced criticism.
Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., criticized the absence, noting the importance of hearing directly from female athletes about the challenges and concerns arising from current policies. Senator Ashley Moody, R-Fla., highlighted that not a single female Democratic senator engaged with the witnesses to discuss their experiences and fears regarding the issue.
The hearing addressed measures proposed to protect women's sports, with Republican lawmakers advocating for methods such as cheek swab DNA testing. Democrats had previously raised concerns about potential invasive gender verification tests, a claim critics argue was unsubstantiated by the text of legislation or examples of its application.
Public opinion, as indicated by various polls, suggests a majority of Americans favor restricting biological males from competing in women's sports. Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, many Democrats have adopted a more distant stance on the issue of transgender athletes in women's sports without formally retracting previous positions.
Currently, 23 states lack specific rules barring biological males from competing in women's sports. Legal disputes have occurred in states like California, Maine, and Minnesota concerning the issue.