Americans of all ages overwhelmingly agree males don’t belong in women’s sports, only two genders 

Americans across every bracket agree: two genders exist, and male transgender athletes don’t belong in women’s sports, a new NBC poll reveals.

The poll found 75% of Americans oppose transgender-identifying males competing in women’s sports, while 25% support it. Meanwhile, 71% say two genders exist, and 29% say more than two exist.

Though younger Americans generally are more liberal on these issues, most still agree with older Americans. Notably, 60% of 18-to-29-year-olds say only two genders exist, while 40% disagree. In all other age groups, at least 70% say there are two genders. 

Additionally, 64% of those in the 18-to-29 age range say males should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports; 36% disagreed. 

Opposition to transgender athletes in women’s sports was highest in the 45-to-64 age range (82% opposed, 18% support), but overwhelming majorities of all age groups oppose the practice.  

However, among the youngest age group, a strong gender divide exists. While 72% of men in the 18-to-29 age range oppose males competing in women’s sports, only 56% of women in the age bracket feel the same. Still, the opposition was the majority.  

For example, 21-year-old college student Cecilia Pogue of Virginia said letting males compete against women takes opportunities away from women.  

“We want people to feel comfortable in their skin, and we want them to have opportunities, but we also need to make sure we’re not taking opportunities away from the majority to please the minority,” Pogue told NBC News. 

Pogue also worries about the safety aspect.  

“I don’t really want to play soccer against a 6-2 person who already went through puberty and then changed late high school or in early college,” she said. 

The findings are similar to a January 2025 New York Times poll that said 79% of Americans oppose transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, while just 18% support it. 

Even though most feel this way, most Democrat politicians oppose the will of the American people on these issues. 

When legislation came up that would have barred males from interscholastic women’s sports in the U.S. Senate earlier this year, every Republican voted supported it while no Democrats backed the proposal. 

Also, former President Joe Biden reportedly opposed males competing in women’s sports during his tenure, but his administration tried to force schools to allow it.