Former women’s tennis star Martina Navratilova has weighed in on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The bill requires that athletes participate in sports based on their biological sex, and not their gender identity.
Navratilova, who has been a vocal critic of trans inclusion in women’s sports, expressed her opposition to the bill in a series of posts on social media. She wrote that she was “shame on the Democrats who really don’t care about women, girls, and their safety, fairness” for not voting in favor of the bill at a higher rate.
Navratilova also called out some Democratic lawmakers for their stance on the issue, saying that they should “grow a spine” and support the bill. She claimed that there are more Democratic lawmakers who privately support the bill, but are too afraid to speak out.
This is not the first time Navratilova has taken a strong stance against trans inclusion in women’s sports. In a previous post, she wrote that she was “mad” that Republicans were leading the charge on the issue, rather than Democrats. She also spoke out against the Biden administration’s Title IX rewrite, which she claimed would allow biological males to compete in women’s sports.
Navratilova’s criticism of the left has not gone unreciprocated, as she has faced criticism for her views from some on the left. In a past interview, she said that she has been labeled as a “homophobe” and a “transphobe” by some, and has even been accused of being a “Nazi” and a “fascist.” Despite this, Navratilova remains resolute in her stance, and has spoken out about her experiences being attacked by those who disagree with her.