Transgender rights in sports and youth care
Republican messaging and ballot measures nationwide in 2026 target transgender athletes' participation and gender-affirming care for minors. These culture-war issues appear in ads and state proposals and are relevant to Indiana education, athletics, and healthcare policy.
How should Indiana handle transgender athletes and gender-related medical care for minors?
How important is this to you?
✓ You told us where you stand
Sources
The Week — https://theweek.com/politics/issues-that-will-determine-2026-midterms-israel-immigration-gas-trump-iran
Republican-run ads attacking Democrats over “transgender athletes’ sports participation and gender-affirming medical care for minors” have “become commonplace”
Ballotpedia — https://ballotpedia.org/2026_ballot_measures
Prohibit healthcare professionals from providing surgeries to persons under age 18 for the purpose of “treatment in response to a minor’s perception of sex or gender”
Ballotpedia — https://ballotpedia.org/2026_ballot_measures
Prohibit schools and athletic associations from allowing a student, athlete, employee, or other individual from using a restroom, locker room, shower room, or other private space that is not designated for their sex
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Protect full inclusion in sports and access to gender-affirming care including for minors
- Allow participation and care with medical gatekeeping and case-by-case sports rules
- Leave most decisions to local schools, parents, and physicians with limited state bans
- Bar transgender girls/women from female sports and restrict youth medical transitions
- Ban gender-affirming care for minors and require sex-based categories in all school sports and facilities