California Gov. Gavin Newsom does not like being on Donald Trump's side on any issue.
But when it comes to transgender girls and women in sports, particularly at the school level, the Democrat said he largely agrees with the Republican president. Newsom, one of his party's leading White House prospects, believes it's "deeply unfair" for people who are ***** igned male at birth to compete against girls.
"I don't want to be on that side of it, but I'm being honest — I'd be lying to you if I said differently," Newsom told The ***** ociated Press as he was campaigning recently in South Carolina. "I haven't been able to figure out how to make it fair from my perspective."
Newsom is not alone.
While most Democratic officials remain steadfast supporters of the transgender community, an increasing number in red and blue states are distancing themselves from their party's unflinching support for the transgender community's policy priorities, such as allowing athletes to compete on teams that match their gender identity. The shift follows years of conservative attacks against Democrats on the divisive issue, which affects a relatively small number of transgender people and their families, but has emerged as one of Republicans' most potent political weapons in the Trump era.

#number

Sophie Cunningham reveals what she truly thinks of former NBA players Enes Kanter and Royce White declaring for the WNBA Draft.
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham stirred up one of the biggest debates in the WNBA when she stated that the W should only allow female athletes.
For some reason, this statement had fans divided, and the likes of Enes Kanter and Royce White took advantage of this.
How? Well, they claimed that if the WNBA didn't have a clear transgender athlete policy, they'd like to enter the league next season.
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

#fever

"The Matrix" director Lilly Wachowski issued blunt comments about J.K. Rowling in a new interview, accusing the "Harry Potter" writer of funding transgender genocide. Now, the prolific author has responded via a statement from a representative, highlighting the right to free speech.
Jeffrey Mayer/JTMPhotos, Int'l. / MEGA
Following Wachowski accusing Rowling of "funding trans genocide" and lumping her in with ****** s, her agent, Neil Blair, issued a response to the filmmaker via Entertainment Weekly. Blair began, "Freedom of speech is a principle we should all cherish."
The statement continued, "What matters is that J.K. Rowling's views, as with anyone else's, are represented accurately, fairly and respectfully and that individual opinion does not detract from those views."
In addressing the "Matrix" director directly, the agent noted, "To correct Lilly Wachowski, through The J.K. Rowling Women's Fund, J.K Rowling supports women taking legal action in the UK to preserve their existing rights under the Equality Act 2010, which are often overlooked or threatened."

#matrix #blair #funding

In a Fox News exclusive interview, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico came out in favor of banning gender surgery for minors and opposed transgender-identifying men competing in women's sports.
Talarico also backtracked on several of his more controversial claims, including saying there are six genders and that "God is nonbinary."
This comes as the Texas Senate race, which is surprisingly close according to recent Fox News polling, enters its final months. The race is considered critical to both parties' chances of securing a Senate majority. Talarico is facing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican who has faced controversies of his own. A Republican loss in Texas would significantly impact President Donald Trump's ability to implement his agenda.
Fox News spoke with Talarico at a food drive campaign event in Dallas on Tuesday. Talarico's event took place as the first-ever GOP midterm convention kicked off just miles away in downtown Dallas.
Talarico Campaigns With Surgeon Who Operated On Transgender Minors: 'Wolf In Sheep's Clothing'

#talarico #transgender #democratic

Elon Musk's first wife, Justine, says the tech ******* an had a tumultuous relationship with his daughter Vivian, who is transgender.
In Alex Gibney's new documentary, Musk, she recalled what it was like to be married to the world's first trillionaire, who is also the father of her six kids, twins Vivian and Griffin, triplets Saxon, Kai and Damian, and their late son, Nevada. Justine noted that Musk cut off Vivian's health insurance when she came out as trans and said he "never tried to repair things" with her. "It's not in his nature," she said, per People.
More from SheKnows
Elon Musk's Ex-Wife Justine Reveals The Chilling Thing He Told Her At Their Wedding To Make Her Feel 'Insignificant'
However, Justine alleged that Musk told her to tell Vivian that "I'll always love her."

#justine #alex

Elon Musk's estranged eldest daughter Vivian Wilson is front and centre in a bold anti-AI campaign for Spanish fashion label Desigual.
The campaign, helmed by directing trio PSG (made up of Yukihiro 'Sho' Shoda, Pau López and Gerardo del Hierro - formerly known as TURBO), sees the transgender model, acitvist and social media personality take a stand against artificial intelligence.
Illustrating the campaign's ****** le, 'Born to Disobey', one clip sees the 22-year-old using a robot as a golf tee, walking it like a dog on a leash, and trying to teach it to say "Desigual". Throughout, the robot malfunctions, leading Vivian to the conclusion: "Some things aren't meant to be fixed."
Per a press release, the campaign aims to "send a clear message: the greatest rebellion is no longer about fighting against the system but about refusing to be part of it. When everything invites you to obey, the answer is attitude, irony and the freedom to be yourself."
Wilson told People that it was important to her to take a stance on the impact of AI on the fashion industry "because it takes jobs away from talented creatives while being detrimental for the environment."

#wilson

Laverne ***** says two very famous rappers had hit on and flirted with her.
The Orange is the New Black actress, who is openly transgender, shared the stories during a recent appearance on the Baby, This is Keke Palmer podcast.
Without naming names, the 54-year-old actress said that one of the rappers seemed enthusiastically interested in her each time they came face-to-face.
"When I first kind of came on the scene, he would very kind of overtly hit on [me], like, just really excited to see me every time he saw me," ***** recalled at the one-hour, 13-minute mark in the video linked below. "He was cute and I was open to it and then there was a period when I just kept running into him. I remember we were at Soho House and he was in a meeting, and then all of that energy that he was always excited about—it just dissipated."
COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.

#actress #time

"This is a case about swinging ****** s," wrote Judge Lawrence VanDyke of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in March. "You may think that swinging ****** s shouldn't appear in a judicial opinion. You're not wrong. But as much as you might understandably be shocked and displeased to merely encounter that phrase in this opinion, I hope we all can agree that it is far more jarring for the unsuspecting and exposed women at Olympus Spa—some as young as thirteen—to be visually ****** aulted by the real thing."
VanDyke was dissenting from the 9th Circuit's decision not to revisit Olympus v. Armstrong, a case that saw an all-female Korean spa sue on First Amendment grounds. The business, according to the Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC), had broken the law when it declined to accept a preoperative transgender woman. This was a problem for Olympus Spa, which requires nudity in its pool area, and whose business model, relatedly, hinges on catering to a single-sex clientele.
In ruling against the business last year, the 9th Circuit acknowledged the thorniness of the case. "We are not unmindful of the concerns and beliefs raised by the Spa," wrote Judge M. Margaret McKeown. "Indeed, the Spa may have other avenues to challenge the enforcement action. But whatever recourse it may have, that relief cannot come from the First Amendment."
Olympus Spa is now taking its case to the Supreme Court. McKeown and VanDyke, whose vulgar approach elicited a rebuke from 27 of his colleagues, may appear irreconcilably at odds. In some sense, they are. Yet the rival sensibilities also help paint a more complete picture of a complicated case, one that naturally provokes strong reactions but for which there may be no immediately satisfying answer under the Constitution.
The ordeal traces back to 2020. Haven Wilvich, who has identified as a "nonbinary trans woman," lodged a complaint with the WSHRC after being turned away from the Olympus Spa location in Lynnwood, Washington, for having a ****** . (The spa says it accepts postoperative transgender women.) The Washington State Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) bars discrimination based on many characteristics, including ****** ual orientation, which the state defines as encompassing "heterosexuality, ****** ****** uality, bisexuality, and gender expression or identity."

#olympus #vandyke #state

Since Sophie Cunningham spoke out against transgender women competing in women's sports in an ESPN profile in late July, the Indiana Fever forward has been everywhere.
The media flocked to her with follow-up questions and pushback. A rival coach confronted her during a nationally televised game. In countless cable news segments, social media posts, and podcast clips, Cunningham's words have been chewed over and debated. Her personal social media profiles draw millions of views.
Yet during the entire news cycle, Cunningham has been conspicuously absent from her own podcast, Show Me Something. No new episodes of the show have been published since July 21.
The podcast, produced and distributed by The Volume, was launched as a destination for the outspoken veteran's musings on the WNBA and her very closely watched Indiana Fever team. Early on, Cunningham used the platform to defend her teammate, Caitlin Clark, and dispute controversial foul calls and league decisions.
Shortly after Cunningham's initial comments about transgender athletes in a Rolling Stone interview, her co-host, West Wilson, posted a TikTok that directly contradicted Cunningham's perspective. The reality television star, with whom Cunningham grew up in Missouri, called transgender women's participation in sports "a borderline nonexistent issue" that right-wing commentators amplify. Wilson added that discourse about transgender athletes further isolates transgender people and distracts Americans from "actual harmful sh*t" such as the cost of living.

#transgender #Media #podcast #show

Enes Kanter has been asked how many points he thinks he would be scoring in the WNBA if he were allowed to compete.
Kanter declared for the 2027 WNBA draft over the summer and has now spoken to Piers Morgan about the league and the ongoing transgender athlete debate.
When doing so, he suggested he could destroy the current NBA single-game scoring record, which is held by Wilt Chamberlain.
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Morgan asked: "I mean just in pure cold hard reality if you were to play in the WNBA in an average game, how many points do you think you'd score?"

#enes

Elliot Page is still searching for his next role after the success of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.
The Juno star, 39, said he feels ready to do "some of my best work," but admitted the phone has not been ringing.
During his appearance on the Tuesday, September 1, episode of On Film…With Kevin McCarthy, the host ***** umed that Page had been receiving "a zillion calls" after starring in The Odyssey.
"No, Kevin, I'm not," Page responded. "I'd really love to do, ideally, good work. That's what I'd love to do."
Page — who came out as a transgender man in December 2020 — went on to say that in his earlier career, he was "less" confident, specifically pointing to his time working with Nolan on the 2010 science-fiction film, Inception.

#film #christopher

In a new series of ads for Calvin Klein, Sadie Sink – the 24-year-old Hollywood actress best-known for Stranger Things – can be seen posing in nothing but jeans and a bra. The reason I mention this is not, I promise, because I'm a grubby old man. It's because I believe that something about these ads is politically very significant.
In short: the woman in them is good looking.
When I was young, few people would have considered "Attractive Woman Hired to Model in Ad Campaign" to be front-page news. (Not that this necessarily deterred newspapers from putting the relevant pictures on the front page, but you know what I mean.) A few years ago, however, something peculiar happened. Major fashion and beauty brands started filling their ads with people who are, shall we say, less conventionally attractive.
Take Calvin Klein itself. In 2019, it ran a billboard campaign in which its jeans were modelled by a woman who was unmistakably – in the euphemism favoured by women's magazines – "plus-size". Or, as one rather less generous commentator put it: "morbidly obese".
Then, in 2023, Calvin Klein ran an ad showing a sports bra being modelled by a transgender man (in other words, a biological female). This transgender man also happened to be "plus-size". And to have a beard as big as Brian Blessed's.

#woman #jeans #front #page

There are no transgender women actually attempting to play in the WNBA–Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White don't count–but Julie Tetart is coming off a reportedly dominant campaign for Monaco Basket **** ociation in France's Ligue Féminine 2.
Tetart averaged 21.2 points and 20.2 rebounds per game during the 2025-26 season, leading the league in both categories. Two of Tetart's teammates recently sat down for an interview with the French podcast "Club Five," during which they compared facing the 6-foot-3 forward, who is listed at 195 pounds.
Martina Bestagno, a 6-foot-3 center, compared her experience "really big players such as Brittney Griner (6-foot-9, 219 pounds) and Isabelle Yacoubou (6-foot-3, 220-229 pounds)" to Tetart and said that while Griner and Yacoubou are "probably bigger" than the 34-year-old transgender standout, size isn't all that matters.
"It's not just the size, it's the combination of size and strength," Bestagno said. "That is something that I never went against it before. Of course, we're playing with her, but during the week, you're going against her in practice and it's something that I never had to face before. I was blown away by the difference talking about strength. The difference is huge."
Sara Crudo, a 6-foot-1 forward who appeared alongside Bestagno, said facing Tetart is "like a train that is coming into you."

#bestagno #pounds #coming #compared

I remember thinking "why are these views not being challenged in the copy?" when first reading Sophie Cunningham's comments in an ESPN profile last month.
The story dealt with Cunningham's status as a 3-and-D player who toes the line between effective and reckless in her aggression on the court. Buried deep in the story is a quote where she says she does not oppose trans people but "I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
My friend and fellow journalist Frankie de la Cretaz sent me the profile lamenting that this quote was left to stand on its own, without any context. Leaving it unchallenged validated Cunningham's claim that trans women are "biological men," and that trans women were harming girls in women's sports. There is no evidence of either claim.
The changes trans athletes go through with hormone replacement therapy as part of medical transition are complex. But they rewire a body to match the ******* a trans person identifies with. That's why organizations let them participate in sports consistent with their identity once they have reached a certain hormonal threshold.
There were nevertheless very few trans elite athletes, because there are very few elite athletes in general. After the Olympics allowed trans women to compete alongside women for the 2004 games in Athens, only one transgender woman has made it since: weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, at Tokyo in 2021. She failed to complete a single lift.

#profile #young #claim

NEW DELHI: Anaya Bangar has responded to criticism from South Africa all-rounder Marizanne Kapp over her bid to return to competitive women's cricket, urging those opposed to her participation to "educate themselves" on the subject.

Kapp had strongly criticised Cricket Australia's decision to offer Anaya a pathway back into competitive women's cricket, calling it "absolutely ridiculous" and saying "this should not be allowed".

The comments came after Cricket Australia cleared Anaya, daughter of former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, for a pathway towards elite women's cricket under its Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy.

Anaya, who underwent gender-affirming surgery in March this year, is currently eligible to play community cricket in any state or territory of Australia. Her eligibility for elite cricket from March 2027 remains subject to the policy requirements.
Anaya's potential return has generated reactions on both sides, with the 25-year-old now responding directly to Kapp's criticism.

"I think people who want to raise their voice against it should actually educate themselves on this topic, and I've already provided the necessary information in terms of not having any unfair advantage, and also complying with the guidelines set by Cricket Australia.

"If anyone's personal opinion is in that sort of way, I hope they go and educate themselves," she said with a shrug while speaking to PTI.

Anaya is hoping to eventually pursue a pathway to the Women's Big Bash League, although she is yet to sign up with a local club. Her immediate focus is on playing at the community level and proving herself through her performances.
Anaya said she had spent a long period in "survival mode" and was only now beginning to process everything she had experienced during her transition and the long road back to cricket.

"...basically now, the next role is to go there and play club cricket and prove myself by my performances, and if I do well, I hopefully might have a chance to be picked for the Women's Big Bash League. So, baby steps from here, but the major part of having a place to play has been cleared," she said.

She is currently in talks with a few cricket clubs and is waiting to decide on the right one "to go there and start playing."

For Anaya, the CA decision represents a significant breakthrough after years away from competitive cricket. While she has been given a pathway, it does not guarantee selection in any team.

Anaya further added that the process was neither "automatic or informal", with CA considering her medical and surgical history, hormone and testosterone levels, cricketing background, playing footage and scientific and athletic performance work undertaken with Manchester Metropolitan University's Institute of Sport.

She also said her most recent blood test in July recorded total testosterone at 0.6 nanomoles, which she said was within the female reference rang

NEW DELHI: South Africa all-rounder Marizanne Kapp has strongly criticised Cricket Australia's decision to offer transgender cricketer Anaya Bangar a pathway back into competitive women's cricket, calling the development "absolutely ridiculous" and saying it "should not be allowed".

Kapp's reaction came after Australian media reported that Cricket Australia (CA) had cleared Anaya, the daughter of former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, to return to competitive cricket under its Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy. The decision has since become a major talking point in the cricketing world.

Sharing a report on her Instagram, Kapp wrote: "Absolutely ridiculous. This should not be allowed."

Anaya underwent gender-affirming surgery in March this year and has now been given a pathway towards elite women's cricket in Australia. Under CA's decision, she can play community cricket in any state or territory of Australia until March 2027.
From March 2027, Anaya can become eligible for elite-level women's cricket if she continues to meet the policy requirements, including the stipulated testosterone threshold.

An expert panel comprising CA's Head of Integrity Jacqui Partridge, Integrity Partner and Legal representative Emily Yates, Head of Scheduling, Operations and Domestic Cricket Peter Roach, Anti-Doping Medical Officer Dr Peter Harcourt and Team Doctor Dr Pip Inge considered Anaya's case before confirming the pathway.

"Under Cricket Australia's Policy, a player seeking to participate in the female category of Elite Cricket must establish that their serum testosterone concentration has been below 10 nmol/L continuously for a period of no less than 12 months," CA said in an email to Anaya.

The governing body added that, based on the medical information submitted, the requirement would be satisfied in March 2027. Her eligibility from that point will remain conditional on a blood test confirming that her testosterone level remains below 10 nmol/L and that she continues to meet the policy's requirements.

Anaya said the process was neither "automatic or informal" and that CA had considered her medical and surgical history, hormone and testosterone levels, cricketing background, playing footage and scientific and athletic performance work conducted with Manchester Metropolitan University's Institute of Sport.

She also revealed that her most recent blood test in July recorded total testosterone at 0.6 nanomoles, which she said was within the female reference range reported by the laboratory.
For Anaya, however, the CA decision represents an opportunity rather than a guarantee of a place in elite cricket.

"I want to make another point very clearly. Eligibility is not selection. Cricket Australia has given me a pathway, which does not mean that I have been given a place in a team. I still have to train, compete, perform and earn that opportunity," she said.

"I don't expect my history

Sophie Cunningham is one of the most talked about players in the WNBA right now. She is one of the stars of the league, and leads the Indiana Fever. She is a very resourceful player on the court and is known for her fiery attitude on to as well.
The Fever star has also become one of the most outspoken voices in the league. She recently attracted attention for a daring action before a game.
Cunningham has been one of the WNBA's most talked about athletes in recent times. She has begun a debate over whether transgender athletes can be allowed to play in the league that is still ongoing. Other than that, she is not scared to talk about, or portray herself as she wishes.
Jun 20, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) reacts to a foul call during the game against the Atlanta Dream during the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
Cunningham recently caused another light-hearted moment, during the pregame shootaround. It was before the game against the Dallas Wings. When a team staff member was filming her from the bench, she initially pretended not to notice. She then lowered casually pulled down her sweatpants as a fun moment, before pulling them up, turning around and smiling while pointing directly at the camera. She was wearing her compression shorts underneath, so no serious harm was done.

#athletes

Los Angeles Sparks center Cameron Brink took direct aim at former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, calling him a "stupid piece of s***" over his recent controversies.
Kanter Freedom has been on a campaign centered around transgender athletes, claiming that women's sports are under attack.
He and Royce White, another former NBA player, declared themselves for the 2027 WNBA Draft.
Brink, before the Sparks played against the Atlanta Dream, was asked about Kanter Freedom's appearance at a WNBA game after declaring for the WNBA draft and wearing a shirt that read "woman noun. adult human female."
He eventually got into an altercation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud, which led to his ejection from the game and a ban from all Chicago Sky games.

#freedom #player

Los Angeles Sparks center Cameron Brink minced no words while sharing her feelings about former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom.
"I don't even know what the (expletive) his name is – Enes Kanter – he's a stupid piece of (expletive)," Brink said on Aug. 24 ahead of a matchup with the Atlanta Dream. "And I think a lot of people think that, and I think he's just trying to stay relevant."
Brink's words came Aug. 24, a day after Kanter Freedom was removed from an Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game after he and Sky guard Natasha Cloud exchanged words. A former NBA player, Kanter Freedom on Aug. 7 declared himself eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft, saying he identifies as a woman. He was sitting courtside at Wintrust Arena in a T-shirt that said: "WOMAN noun. adult human female."
Cloud approached Kanter Freedom when a timeout was called with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter. He stood up, arms outstretched and approached the court, stepping over photographers on the floor. Cloud was held back by teammates, and Kanter Freedom was quickly surrounded by security. He was eventually escorted out.
Kanter Freedom has been outspoken about the current transgender athlete conversation surrounding the WNBA. An openly trans woman has never played in the WNBA.

#WNBA #words #enes #former

Ricky Schroder is facing criticism after using his tribute to Dolly Parton to highlight their differences over transgender rights and COVID-19 vaccines. The actor shared a photograph taken with the country music legend while remembering the two television movies they made together. However, his decision to bring politics into the tribute quickly overshadowed his message about Parton, with critics accusing him of using her death to promote his personal views.
AFF-USA.com / MEGA
Schroder shared his tribute on Instagram, posting a photograph taken with Parton years before her death. Rather than focusing exclusively on his memories of working with the singer, the actor emphasized that they did not agree on certain social and political issues.
"I didnt agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me, Dolly, to be your Movie Daddy," Schroder wrote.
The post immediately generated criticism in the comments section. Many social media users questioned why Schroder felt it was necessary to mention their differences while paying tribute to Parton following her death at age 80.

#death #transgender

Amid all the celebrity tributes pouring in for the late Dolly Parton, one of them is getting backlash for being "disrespectful" and "foul" to the country music icon.
Parton's former co-star Ricky Schroder played Parton's father in two NBC biopic movies based in the singer's childhood (2015's Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors and 2016's Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love), both of which were narrated and executive produced by Parton. In the wake of Parton's death on Tuesday, Schroder took to social media to post, "I didn't agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support … but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy."
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Harry Styles Pays Tribute to Dolly Parton at Madison Square Garden Residency Opening Night: "We Love You"
Dolly Parton's Spotify Streams Spiked Over 1,200 Percent Following Icon's Death

#schroder #colors

Ricky Schroder got slammed online following his transphobic and anti-vaccine laced tribute to Dolly Parton.
Remembrance after remembrance flooded the internet Tuesday after news that the country music legend had died. Schroder – who played Parton's father in two TV movies, "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" and "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love" – joined his voice to the many. But he still couldn't help but point out their political differences in his tribute.
"I didnt [sic] agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway," Schroder wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of him and Parton. "Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy."
This led to a number of celebrities calling the "NYPD Blue" star out for feeling the need to mention those things while honoring Parton. Katie Couric, Boy George, and many others heaped on their disgust for the way Schroder chose to honor Parton's memory.
"Ick," Couric wrote on Threads.

#schroder

A former Norfolk, Virginia, police officer filed a lawsuit against the city and its police chief earlier this month after the police department allegedly allowed a biological male to use the women's locker rooms.
According to the documents obtained by Fox News Digital, the Aug. 10 legal complaint stemmed from an August 2024 incident in which former Norfolk police officer Meghan Grabow was changing in the women's locker room and stripped down to her underwear when a recruit described as a "biological male who identifies as a woman" entered the room wearing a suit and tie. Grabow said that the recruit looked at her "as a man would look at a woman" before moving to another part of the locker room.
Grabow claimed that when she spoke to her superiors about her discomfort, she was told to "learn to deal with it" and "find another locker room" if she was uncomfortable.
San Francisco Ymca Changes Locker Room Rules After Transgender Controversy: Report
A female police officer alleges she was retaliated against and suspended after she complained about a biological male who identified as a woman being allowed to use the women's changing area.

#room #police #grabow #biological

Charles Barkley Defends Sophie Cunningham, Blasts WNBA Leadership Over Controversy originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Charles Barkley believes Sophie Cunningham never should have become the face of the WNBA's increasingly heated debate over transgender participation in women's sports.
The Basketball Hall of Famer defended the Indiana Fever guard during an appearance on Michael Smerconish's SiriusXM program, arguing Cunningham faced unfair criticism after publicly sharing her position on the issue.
"I can't believe people got mad at her for telling the truth," Barkley said. "She said, 'I'm protecting girls.'"
Barkley then used an outdated term while paraphrasing Cunningham's position. Cunningham did not use that language in her original comments. The Fever guard told ESPN in July that she did not believe "biological men" should compete in women's sports. She later stressed that she does not hate transgender people and said her objective was to protect opportunities for women and young girls.

#sporting #transgender #sports #guard

Ricky Schroder is giving people the "ick" with his tribute to late co-star Dolly Parton.
The NYPD Blue alum, 56, and legendary country singer appeared in Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors in 2025, as well as its 2026 sequel, Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. He played a version of her father in both TV movies.
Taking to social media on Tuesday, August 25 — following Parton's death at the age of 80 — Schroder shared a post honoring the icon. Alongside a photo of them together, he wrote, "I didnt agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy."
Parton was a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, speaking out against North Carolina's anti-trans bathroom bill in 2016 by telling CNN, "I think everybody should be treated with respect. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are."
The singer also donated $1 million to vaccine research amid the Covid pandemic. After helping to fund the Moderna vaccine, she filmed herself receiving it as well, sharing the footage to social media.

#vaccine #many #colors #Social

The Indiana Fever have become one of the most popular teams in the WNBA over the last month or so.
It was revealed earlier this month that at least one women's basketball game had been watched by 2.5 million viewers or more every week since July 12.
Four of the five games to reach the 2.5 million mark involved the Fever, with the other the WNBA All-Star Game.
The Fever are, of course, home to Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, who are two of the most followed players in the league on Instagram.
Clark has been popular for a long time, while Cunningham has experienced a sudden spike in notoriety since the debate around transgender athletes competing in the WNBA began to grow in July.

#july

Enes Kanter Freedom was banned from Wintrust Arena on Tuesday, Aug. 25, one day after his altercation with Chicago Sky's Natasha Cloud
The incident stemmed from Kanter Freedom's criticism of transgender athletes and Cloud's advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community
Kanter Freedom recently expressed interest in joining the WNBA amid debates over transgender athletes in women's sports
Enes Kanter Freedom has been banned from Wintrust Arena in Chicago following his altercation with Chicago Sky point guard Natasha Cloud.
Kanter Freedom, 34, was banned on Tuesday, Aug. 25, following the altercation the previous day on Monday, Aug. 24, according to ESPN.

#kanter #altercation

CHICAGO — Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter isn't backing down after the WNBA team ejected former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom from Sunday's game against the Indiana Fever.
Kanter Freedom attended the game at Wintrust Arena and sat courtside wearing a shirt that read, "WOMAN noun. adult human female." During a verbal exchange with Sky guard Natasha Cloud in the third quarter, Kanter Freedom stepped over photographers to encroach on the baseline during a dead ball.
A combination of team and arena security immediately removed Kanter from the court and eventually from the arena. Alter also immediately left his courtside seat during the altercation and crossed the court to confront Kanter Freedom, visibly instructing him to leave the vicinity and encouraging security to intervene.
It was the latest stunt pulled by the former player as he continues to insert himself into the debate surrounding the inclusion of transgender women in women's sports. Kanter Freedom previously declared for the WNBA draft, causing the league to deny his eligibility earlier this week.
In a conversation Tuesday with local media, Alter said Kanter Freedom will be banned from Sky games at Wintrust Arena for the foreseeable future unless "he's able to prove to our satisfaction that he is able to abide by our rules without being a potential threat."

#wintrust

Natasha Cloud got into it with Enes Kanter at a Chicago Sky game recently. And while the former NBA player has made his point of view clear, Cloud also had a message of her own for trans people.
The WNBA controversy around transgender athletes shows no signs of abating. Things have only escalated in the past week with former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom not backing down.
Kanter has been incredibly vocal about wanting to play in the W, although the league has said that he, and others like him, are ineligible.
Matters came to a head when he attended the recent game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky. He got into it with WNBA star Natasha Cloud, who has made her stance on the situation clear since.
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

#kanter

Kyle Kuzma questions criticism of Sophie Cunningham amid growing controversy originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Sophie Cunningham's comments about transgender participation in women's sports have sparked a wide-ranging debate, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma has now entered the conversation.
The former NBA champion publicly defended Cunningham after sportscaster Chris Williamson suggested the Indiana Fever guard's comments contributed to political hostility directed toward transgender people.
Kuzma questioned that interpretation in an X post, arguing that Cunningham's stated position centered on competitive fairness and the protection of opportunities for women and girls.
"What was transphobic about her comment?" Kuzma wrote, before reiterating Cunningham's position and sarcastically questioning whether she deserved discipline.

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