On Friday night, a CNN panel on NewsNight with Abby Phillip turned contentious as pundits analyzed why Kamala Harris lost the presidential election to Donald Trump.
GOP strategist Shermichael Singleton brought up what he believed was a significant factor: gender policies impacting youth sports.
CNN descends into CHAOS after LGBTQI+ activist has meltdown after a panelist said boys shouldn’t be in girls sports.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) November 9, 2024
“There’re not boys. I’m not going to listen to transphobia. I am not going to listen to you call a trans girl a boy.”
pic.twitter.com/cKJ2y42afb
“I think there are a lot of families out there who don’t believe that boys should play girls’ sports—” he began.
Before he could finish, another pundit interrupted, declaring,
“They’re not boys! I am not going to listen to transphobia at this table!” The sudden outburst shifted the conversation into a heated exchange, with the pundit further asserting, “They’re not boys! They’re not playing ‘girls’ sports,’ and I won’t sit here and listen to that.”
Trump’s campaign had effectively highlighted this issue in various ads, promising to ban transgender girls from playing in girls’ sports or using women’s facilities.
WOW: Trump just dropped this new ad.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 14, 2024
"Kamala supports taxpayer-funded sex changes for prisoners."
And plays a clip of her saying exactly that – AND that she supports men playing in women's sports!
🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/Fqc47gdrNC
These ads had resonated with certain voter groups who supported stricter boundaries around gender policies in schools and sports.
Host Abby Phillip tried to regain control of the conversation, acknowledging the sensitive nature of the topic. “This is a really heated issue,” she said to Singleton.
“I know you’re aware that people have different views on this. I think, out of respect for Jay, let’s try to talk about this in a respectful way.”
Singleton attempted to rephrase his point, stating, “Okay, so let me rephrase this since I’m being targeted here—”
Phillip immediately clarified, “Just to be clear, you are not being targeted.” Singleton smiled, responding, “I am, but it’s okay.” Phillip further explained, “I am specifically saying that I know you are not intending to be transphobic.”
The other pundit argued that “regular people” understand that trans girls are girls, suggesting that the public largely agrees with this viewpoint.
However, recent polling indicates that Americans remain divided on the issue of transgender participation in sports, especially among parents.
He went on to say, “There’s no consensus that these are actually boys,” and criticized what he called a “canard” surrounding trans girls.
He claimed the issue affects only a small fraction of the population, yet impacts healthcare access for many.
Phillip attempted to let Singleton respond, as he appeared frustrated yet patient.
“My point about the ads’ effectiveness,” he said, “is that regular people, especially those with kids, look at these issues and think, ‘This is a bit too far.’
Many feel that Democrats have shifted too far to the left on social issues.
A lot of people feel that way. They may not agree with this trend. They may not support it. That’s why Republicans ran those ads repeatedly—because they saw it resonated.”
Singleton continued, emphasizing that parental concerns over these social issues were central to the Republicans’ messaging strategy.
He noted that while others on the panel might disagree, his view reflected a reality that many voters shared.
The other pundit, however, remained steadfast in his belief that Republican rhetoric on the issue was rooted in transphobia.
“The ads use language like you just did,” he said to Singleton, “calling them ‘boys’ and talking about ‘boys in girls’ sports.’”
He dismissed the relevance of the ads, saying, “We’re talking about maybe five people in the entire country affected by this issue.”
Singleton interrupted, asking, “What language would you prefer?”
The other pundit replied, “We’re talking about trans girls being allowed to participate with others in their gender group. And you don’t have to listen to me—listen to the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association. This is a war on science.”
While Singleton maintained that he was simply trying to explain the Republican viewpoint, the exchange highlighted a growing cultural and political divide. This debate on CNN mirrors broader societal divides over how to balance inclusivity with concerns around safety and fairness in sports.
For instance, some women’s sports teams have expressed discomfort with trans athletes participating alongside cisgender women, particularly in high-contact sports.
In California, women’s volleyball teams recently forfeited matches against San Jose State, where a transgender player participates on the women’s team.
The team’s co-captain even joined a formal complaint against the NCAA for allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s leagues.
Similarly, high school girls’ teams have occasionally boycotted games against teams with transgender players, citing concerns over competitive fairness and physical safety.
These actions underscore a growing debate over how to approach gender inclusivity in sports and the impact on athletes.
As NewsNight came to a close, Phillip reflected on the panel’s intense discussion, remarking that the issue would likely remain contentious.
As more young people identify as LGBTQ+, the question of how to create inclusive yet fair environments for all athletes will continue to challenge policymakers, schools, and communities.
The debate on NewsNight illustrates the complexity of the issue as America grapples with changing social norms and the impact of those shifts on families, sports, and politics.
Republicans’ emphasis on this topic reflects a belief that voters are increasingly uncomfortable with certain progressive policies.
Whether Democrats will reconsider their approach in response to election outcomes remains an open question, as does the role of gender in shaping future political campaigns and policy debates.