During a recent episode of Club Random, Bill Maher shared his views on trans athletes in sports during a conversation with fellow comedian David Cross.
Maher opened the discussion by referencing Democratic congressman Seth Moulton. “He got a lot of attention at the end of the last election cycle because he was talking about the Democrats and they got their a*s kicked in the election,” Maher said.
He continued by summarizing Moulton’s remarks: “He said they were talking about the trans issue, and he said, ‘Look, I don’t want my 12-year-old daughter to be on the soccer field and be run over by someone who’s identifying as a woman, but is really a boy.’” Maher added, “And a lot of people applauded him for that.”
From there, Maher shifted to the boxing controversy at the Paris Olympics. “We saw in the Olympics, okay, born a man, now competing as a woman,” he said. He continued, “A boxer just beat the dogs**t out of a woman, the other boxer.”
Maher added that the incident unsettled many viewers. “A lot of people were disturbed by that,” he said. “It’s very disturbing to watch because it’s a man beating the s**t out of a woman.”
Cross pushed back during the exchange, questioning whether the boxer had undergone a medical transition or taken puberty blockers. Maher acknowledged some uncertainty but maintained his broader point. “It’s a little murky,” he admitted.
“If you read up on it, they have their side of the story about why, technically,” Maher continued. “To a lot of people it just came off as somebody who looked like a dude and punched like a dude beating up a woman.” He added, “There may be a technical reason why this was a little different. I don’t know.”
When Cross argued that pre-puberty differences are minimal and that size can vary regardless of gender, Maher responded bluntly. “Why can’t you just say it’s true?” he said. “This is what’s wrong with the looney left. They just die on hills that are unnecessary to die on.” He added, “I get what this guy was saying. And again, he’s a Democrat.”
Despite his criticism, Maher drew a line between the sports debate and issues of rights and recognition. “Of course it’s a real thing and of course they should be protected and respected,” he said.
He framed his objection more narrowly, focusing on athletic competition. “There is a default setting for humans,” Maher said. He added, “America is an outlier country.”
