Martina Navratilova Calls Out Democrat Senator Over Transgender Athletes Bill Vote

Martina Navratilova, the tennis icon who’s never been shy about speaking her mind, has turned her outspoken lens to Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat who recently voted against a bill addressing transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Cortez Masto was among the 45 Democrats who opposed the measure, aligning her vote with a broader stance against what she described as federal overreach. She explained that while she supports "fair play" and does not endorse transgender athletes competing in girls’ and women’s sports, she believes this issue is best handled by local schools and communities, not Congress. The senator argued that the bill could lead to invasive physical exams for young female athletes, calling it "incredible government overreach" with the potential to expose girls to increased risks of abuse and harassment.

Navratilova, however, wasn’t having it. She pushed back against the senator’s concerns about invasive checks, suggesting far less intrusive methods such as bloodwork or a simple cheek swab. "No genital checks ever!!! Stop spreading propaganda, Democrats!!!!" the tennis legend declared emphatically on social media.

It’s worth noting that Navratilova’s stance on this issue is a bit of a twist in her political narrative. Her bio on X (formerly Twitter) calls for followers to "vote blue," and she’s made no secret of her disdain for Donald Trump, comparing his leadership style to the totalitarian regime she fled as a child. Yet, when it comes to transgender athletes in women’s sports, she parts ways with many in her political camp, insisting that "male bodies" don’t belong in women’s "sex-based spaces." In her pinned post, she doubles down: "I support trans people but not male bodies in women’s sex-based spaces. Simple."

The topic has been a hot-button issue in sports and politics, with Trump’s administration previously launching Title IX investigations into states like California, Maine, and Minnesota for allegedly allowing biological males to compete in female sports. While the debate rages on, Navratilova’s blunt approach continues to make waves, proving that she’s as fiery off the court as she was on it.