Where do Shomari Figures and Caroleene Dobson stand on Title IX reforms?

During the District 2 congressional debate hosted by AL.com, Republican candidate Caroleene Dobson challenged Democrat Shomari Figures on his views regarding Title IX reforms.

After discussing reproductive healthcare, Dobson claimed that Figures could not be trusted to support women’s rights because he wouldn’t affirm that a “man is a man and a woman is a woman.” In response, Figures stated just that.

Dobson then suggested that Figures opposed the Title IX reforms proposed by the Biden-Harris administration, expressing relief that he believes “girls’ sports are for girls only and girls’ locker rooms are for girls only.” 

Figures clarified that he views concerns about “boys playing girls’ sports in Alabama” as fearmongering, saying, “They cannot show me a single example of this happening. This is just another instance of Republicans trying to incite fear against marginalized groups.”

Dobson countered, labeling the proposed Title IX changes as unfair and unsafe. “We don’t need more Washington representing Alabama,” she said, adding that the Biden administration’s changes would allow boys to participate in girls’ sports and locker rooms, which she deemed unfair, particularly for her daughters.

Her focus on Title IX, particularly concerning transgender athletes, aligns with a broader Republican strategy aimed at pressuring Democrats on this issue. According to the New York Times, Republicans have invested over $65 million in advertisements across key races to leverage this topic, believing it will resonate with suburban women voters. However, similar anti-LGBTQ+ messaging in the 2022 midterms did not yield positive results for them.

AL.com reached out to Figures’ campaign to clarify his position on transgender athletes, but there has been no response.

The Alabama Transgender Rights Action Coalition (ALTRAC) released a statement reacting to the debate. They supported Figures' comments but criticized Dobson’s remarks. “When individuals like Dobson discuss the supposed 'danger' posed by trans children, it’s a tactic to demonize them. Trans youth are simply kids who want to play sports and make friends, not threats,” ALTRAC stated, emphasizing that trans kids deserve the same opportunities as their peers.

In response, Dobson reiterated her stance on fairness in women’s sports. “Female athletes invest immense time and effort into their sports, and that dedication could be undermined if biological males compete in their arenas. While I support all young people, allowing a male to claim female status and compete is a fundamental violation of women’s rights, as we’ve seen with incidents like those in women’s boxing during the 2024 Olympics.”