El-Sayed calls debate over transgender athletes a manufactured issue

Politics · First reported 2 Nov, 10:56 · Updated 12:40

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domain

In a 60 Minutes interview, Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed said he was “not running to govern sports” and described cultural disputes, including transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ sports, as manufactured. He argued that access to information makes it unrealistic for parents to shield children from ideas they find objectionable, and said such disputes distract from economic concerns.

El-Sayed called the debate over transgender athletes in girls’ sports a manufactured social issue and said he was not running to govern sports.
He argued that smartphones and the internet make it difficult to prevent children from encountering ideas their parents find objectionable, and said parents should help children navigate them.
El-Sayed said cultural disputes divert attention from costs of living, health care and concerns about children’s futures. His Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, criticized his remarks.

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Key facts

Interview: El-Sayed discussed the issue with 60 Minutes correspondent Ross Douthat.
Opponent: Republican Mike Rogers is El-Sayed’s opponent in the Michigan Senate race.
Pew survey: The New York Post reports that 73% of Americans surveyed were uncomfortable with transgender competition in girls’ sports.
Polling aggregate: The New York Post reports that El-Sayed had a 5.3 percentage-point edge over Rogers in the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate.
Federal legislation vote: A March 3, 2025 motion to advance the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act received 51 votes in favor and 45 against, short of the required three-fifths threshold.