At one of the next Democratic debates, a moderator should ask the presidential candidates whether they believe biological sex is real. The answer would be incredibly telling.
On the one hand, the candidates would have to say that sex is a construct, lest they suffer the outrage of the woke mobs that came for J.K. Rowling this week. The author merely tweeted in support of a feminist who has argued that biological sex is unchangeable. Then, former Harry Potter fans threatened to burn their books.
On the other hand, the candidates would have to say they believe that biological sex is immutable, otherwise they’d alienate thousands of moderate voters who may have other liberal views but still believe in biological sex. Such an admission would push any candidate far to the left and practically ensure a win for President Trump in 2020.
It wouldn’t be shocking, however, to hear one of the presidential candidates question the reality of biological sex.
Julian Castro, still running for president but not on the debate stage Thursday night, declared this summer that abortion access is not just for women but should include “the trans community.” Other candidates lay out policies for gay and transgender rights on their websites, and several have put their pronouns in their Twitter bios. But they should be pushed to give an answer on the subject of biological sex.
Rowling’s tweet came after United Kingdom feminist Maya Forstater was fired from her job for expressing belief in biological sex and arguing that those “who express concern about impacts on women’s rights and women’s spaces should not be dismissed as hateful or bigots.” Her case against her former employer failed to persuade a U.K. tribunal judge, who maintained that belief in biological sex is “incompatible with human dignity and fundamental rights of others.”
Do Democratic candidates think that judges should make the same call across the pond? Do they believe Twitter should deplatform users who say that men aren’t women? These questions are growing increasingly relevant in America, and they’re shockingly polarizing, with mere skeptics turning into bigots in liberals’ eyes.
The candidates will try to avoid these questions to keep from alienating potential voters. They should have to give an answer.
