NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers stirred controversy this week during his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, where he criticized the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports. The four-time NFL MVP called the trans rights movement “anti-woman” when it comes to athletics, sparking backlash and reigniting one of the most polarizing debates in modern sports.
“The trans woman movement is actually anti-woman,” Rodgers told Rogan, clarifying that his concern lies specifically with transgender athletes competing in women’s categories. “You’re not seeing trans men dominating anything. It’s because there’s a biological difference,” he added.
Joe Rogan, never one to shy away from controversy, was quick to agree. “100%, especially when it comes to sports,” he responded. Rogan then pivoted to criticize what he sees as inconsistencies in athletic hormone regulations: “So if you get a 39-year-old athlete who has low testosterone, you won’t let him take it, but you let a woman take it to become a man? Shut the f**k up.”
Rodgers replied, “Way too much common sense there, Joe,” echoing Rogan’s frustration. He went on to mock those advocating for trans inclusion by saying, “The people you’re asking those questions… can’t even define what a woman is.”
The conversation aligns with former President Donald Trump’s recent executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” signed earlier this year. The policy empowers the Department of Education to withhold federal funds from schools that allow transgender girls to compete in girls’ divisions. At the signing, Trump declared, “With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over.”
However, not everyone agrees with that framing. Medical and athletic organizations have studied the impact of transgender participation in sports for years, often reaching more nuanced conclusions than public discourse allows.
A 2021 study published in British Journal of Sports Medicine found that transgender women maintain some strength advantages even after one year of hormone therapy, but those advantages diminish over time. Another study by Harper et al. (2020) in Sports Medicine concluded that while transgender women may retain certain physiological traits, the actual performance differences vary significantly across sports and individuals. Most importantly, both studies stress the need for tailored, evidence-based policies, not blanket bans.
“These comments from Rodgers and Rogan oversimplify the science and ignore the humanity of trans athletes,” said Dr. Lea Martinez, a sports physiologist and gender inclusion advocate. “There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to fairness in sports. We must balance inclusion with competitive integrity and that takes thoughtful policy, not political grandstanding.”
Trans athletes already face strict regulations under NCAA and international sports guidelines, which require specific hormone levels and transition periods. Advocates contend that these standards are designed to promote fairness and enable transgender individuals to engage in sports that reflect their identities.
For trans people and their allies, hearing high-profile figures like Rodgers equate their existence with unfairness is disheartening, especially when real data and lived experiences tell a more complex story. Trans inclusion isn’t about gaining an advantage, it’s about being seen, respected, and treated as equals in every arena, including sports.
As the national conversation continues, one thing is clear: transgender athletes deserve more than soundbites and dismissals; they deserve fairness, compassion, and the dignity of being included.
