Actresses Who Don’t Support Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports

The issue of transgender athletes participating in women’s sports has sparked a lot of conversation, especially in Hollywood. While many celebrities support inclusivity, an increasing number of actresses and public figures are raising questions about whether it’s fair, citing potential biological advantages. They emphasize the importance of maintaining fair competition for women. Some of these figures have faced criticism for their views, but continue to share their opinions publicly. The following is a list of actresses who have spoken out against transgender women competing in women’s sports.

Caitlyn Jenner

Caitlyn Jenner is a leading voice in the discussion about transgender athletes. The Olympic gold medalist and TV personality believes that athletes who were assigned male at birth shouldn’t compete in women’s sports, because they have physical advantages developed during male puberty. Jenner stresses that her position is about ensuring fair competition, not about excluding anyone. Her own experience as a top athlete gives her a special understanding of what it takes to compete and the importance of physical ability.

Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova, a celebrated tennis star, has consistently championed women’s athletics. Beyond her sporting achievements, she’s also appeared in TV shows like ‘The Politician’ and ‘Will & Grace’. Recently, Navratilova has voiced strong concerns that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports undermines fair competition and the original intent of creating separate categories for women. She suggests creating a separate, open category for all athletes instead of including transgender women in women’s events. This position has led to significant discussion and disagreement, even among her long-time supporters in the LGBTQ+ community.

Patricia Heaton

Patricia Heaton, famous for her roles in TV comedies like ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ and ‘The Middle,’ has spoken out against transgender women competing in women’s swimming. She argues that even with hormone therapy, biological differences – like lung capacity and bone structure – give biological males an unfair advantage. Heaton continues to support groups that advocate for maintaining separate athletic categories based on biological sex.

Macy Gray

Macy Gray, a singer and actress, caused a stir after sharing her opinion on what defines a woman during a TV interview. She focused on sports, saying that even if someone changes their body, natural physical advantages remain. While many criticized her comments, Gray defended her position, arguing that recognizing biological differences is important for maintaining fairness and acknowledging the accomplishments of female athletes. Her views reflect a perspective that emphasizes biological sex when it comes to rules in sports.

Natasha Ward

Natasha Ward, an actress from the series ‘Station 19’, recently received criticism after sharing her views on social media about fairness in women’s sports. She believes that acknowledging the natural physical differences between men and women is important, and that ignoring these differences could disadvantage female athletes. Her statement sparked debate and revealed strong disagreements within the entertainment industry on this topic.

Gina Carano

Gina Carano, formerly a professional mixed martial arts fighter, became an actress known for her role in ‘The Mandalorian’. She has publicly expressed concerns about current understandings of gender and faced career repercussions due to her views shared on social media. Carano believes that acknowledging biological differences is important for safety and fairness, particularly in sports. Her experience as a fighter shapes her belief that there are inherent physical differences between men and women, and she continues to be supported by people who advocate for separate sports categories based on sex.

Sam Sorbo

Sam Sorbo, an actress and radio host, often speaks about social and political topics. She believes that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports is unfair to female athletes and diminishes their accomplishments. Sorbo feels the feminist movement should be protecting spaces and opportunities specifically for biological women. She also thinks schools aren’t adequately teaching children about basic biological facts. Overall, her work centers on maintaining traditional understandings of gender, particularly in areas like sports and society.

Kristy Swanson

Kristy Swanson, best known for her role in the movie ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ is a vocal conservative who often shares her views online. Recently, she’s spoken out against policies allowing transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports and use women’s facilities, like locker rooms. Swanson believes these policies could put women and girls at risk and wants to maintain separate spaces for them.

Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Barr, known for her comedy and acting, is often outspoken and doesn’t shy away from controversial topics. She’s recently spoken about the inclusion of transgender women in spaces traditionally reserved for cisgender women, like restrooms and sports, arguing that it impacts women’s privacy and creates unfair competition. Barr consistently uses her public voice to advocate for the recognition of biological women and feels they are being overlooked. Her direct approach tends to spark strong reactions, with people both supporting and criticizing her views.

Stacey Dash

Stacey Dash first gained fame for her role in the popular movie ‘Clueless’. More recently, she’s become known as a conservative voice, often sharing her opinions on current social issues. Dash is particularly critical of laws that allow transgender people to use bathrooms and other facilities that match their gender identity, believing these policies could harm women and children. She also advocates for maintaining separate categories for women in competitive sports.

Victoria Jackson

Victoria Jackson, a former performer on ‘Saturday Night Live’ known for her comedy and ukulele playing, has recently become a prominent voice for conservative viewpoints. She strongly believes that allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports is unfair, citing natural physical differences. Jackson argues that prioritizing inclusion over biological realities puts female athletes at a disadvantage and that her position is simply a matter of fairness and common sense.

Alice Eve

Alice Eve, a British actress known for her role in ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’, sparked debate online when she expressed concerns about Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn Jenner) competing in women’s sports. Eve pointed out the physical differences between men and women, suggesting it would be unfair for a male-bodied person to compete against biological females in events like the decathlon. She felt it was unfair to women if someone who benefited from male physiology competed as a woman. While she later discussed her views with those who disagreed, her initial comments brought to light the complex issues surrounding gender identity and biological factors in competitive sports.

Maureen Lipman

Dame Maureen Lipman is a well-known British actress who works in theatre and on TV. She has spoken out in support of J.K. Rowling, defending her against claims of being prejudiced against transgender people. Lipman believes the term ‘woman’ should specifically refer to people assigned female at birth and shouldn’t be used in a way that excludes them. She often advocates for maintaining spaces and sports categories that are separate for biological sexes, and encourages more understanding and tolerance while still recognizing the differences between sexes.

Helena Bonham Carter

Helena Bonham Carter, a well-known actress from shows like ‘The Crown’ and the ‘Harry Potter’ films, has publicly supported J.K. Rowling amid criticism of her views on sex and gender. Bonham Carter felt Rowling was unfairly targeted for sharing her personal perspective. Though not directly related to sports, this stance connects her to those who believe in recognizing biological differences between sexes and advocate for open discussion without fear of being ostracized.

Frances Barber

Frances Barber is a British actress known for her work in TV and theatre. She publicly supported J.K. Rowling by signing a letter that criticized the online harassment faced by women who discuss sex-based rights. Barber has also continued to share her views on gender issues online, emphasizing the importance of recognizing biological sex in legal and social contexts.

Tracy-Ann Oberman

Tracy-Ann Oberman is an actress who has appeared in popular shows like ‘EastEnders’ and ‘Doctor Who’. She recently joined a public letter supporting J.K. Rowling, along with other well-known people. Oberman believes it’s important to be able to talk openly about difficult topics without facing negative consequences. Her views suggest she believes women’s rights are based on biological differences, and that women’s sports should be protected as a result.

Sophie Thompson

Sophie Thompson, a celebrated actress and sister of Emma Thompson, has publicly supported J.K. Rowling’s right to share her opinions. This support stems from a debate about what defines a woman and the importance of maintaining single-sex spaces. Thompson’s statement suggests she believes rights should be based on biological sex, and she’s joining other British actresses who are speaking out against the suppression of views on this topic.

Wanda Ventham

Wanda Ventham, a well-known actress from shows like ‘UFO’ and ‘Sherlock’, has publicly supported J.K. Rowling, joining other women in the entertainment industry. By signing an open letter, Ventham protested the strong criticism faced by people who have doubts about current ideas regarding gender. This support is frequently seen as a belief in keeping separate categories for women based on their biology. Ventham, a seasoned actress, is part of a generation who worry about the weakening of women’s rights.

Doon Mackichan

Doon Mackichan, a comedian and actress famous for ‘Smack the Pony’, signed a letter supporting J.K. Rowling’s right to discuss gender issues. Mackichan has spoken out about the need for women to be able to share their views without fear of being silenced. This stance aligns with a growing movement that emphasizes the significance of biological sex, which is a key argument in the effort to maintain single-sex categories in women’s sports.

Miriam Margolyes

Okay, so I’m a big fan of Miriam Margolyes – she’s brilliant as Professor Sprout, naturally. It’s interesting because she initially defended J.K. Rowling, feeling like the backlash was a bit much. She’s also talked about how there are real, biological differences between men and women. Now, she’s trying to be understanding of all sides, but acknowledging those biological realities kind of ends up supporting the arguments some people make about keeping sports separate by sex. It’s a complicated situation, and she’s definitely a thoughtful, if critical, voice in the whole debate.

Danica Patrick

Danica Patrick, a former race car driver who’s also worked in television and voice acting, has recently been speaking out about the biological differences between men and women in sports. She believes men naturally have a physical advantage, and that fairness should be the main consideration when setting up competitions. Having competed in a sport largely dominated by men, she offers a unique perspective on athletic performance and physical capabilities.

2026-01-18 16:18