El-Sayed Calls Sports Dispute Manufactured, Draws Rogers Criticism

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed said in a televised interview that disputes over transgender students and sports are often manufactured and that sports eligibility should be decided by governing organizations, not politicians. His remarks drew criticism from Republican opponent Mike Rogers, who characterized the comments as accepting males in girls’ locker rooms. El-Sayed did not state which eligibility rules he would support as a senator. The exchange aired on 60 Minutes as interviewer Ross Douthat asked about parental control over education and whether rights conflict when schools address transgender students and sports teams. El-Sayed rejected the premise that such issues necessarily involve competing rights. He argued that smartphones and the internet make it unrealistic for parents to prevent children from encountering information they find objectionable, and said parents should explain their beliefs and help children navigate what they encounter. El-Sayed also said cultural disputes can divert attention from costs and access to healthcare. On sports, he said decisions about who plays which sport should be left to the organizations that govern sports,...