In a recent social media post, JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, made a baseless and misleading accusation against Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, falsely claiming she is transgender. Vance’s comments, which came as part of a broader attack on Vice President Kamala Harris’s support for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, have drawn significant condemnation from human rights advocates and LGBTQ+ organizations.
The controversy erupted when Vance shared a video initially posted by far-right influencer Charlie Kirk. The footage showed Khelif’s Olympic match in Paris, where her Italian opponent, Angela Carini, withdrew early due to the intensity of Khelif’s punches. Vance tweeted, “This is where Kamala Harris’s ideas about gender lead: to a grown man pummeling a woman in a boxing match. This is disgusting, and all of our leaders should condemn it.” Kirk’s post, which Vance retweeted, falsely alleged that Khelif was a “biological man” competing against women.
Contrary to these claims, Imane Khelif is a cisgender woman who has never identified as transgender. The misinformation about her gender stemmed from a 2023 incident where she was disqualified from the Russian-led International Boxing Association Women’s World Boxing Championships due to reportedly having Differences of Sexual Development (DSDs). DSDs are a group of medical conditions involving genes, hormones, and reproductive organs. Although it has not been confirmed that Khelif has these traits, the condition is found in some cisgender women. The IBA’s handling of her case has faced criticism, and the organization has been decertified due to allegations of corruption and questionable practices.
Human rights advocates and LGBTQ+ organizations have been vocal in their support of Khelif. The International Olympic Committee and the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit have affirmed her eligibility, stating that all competitors in the women’s category meet the requirements based on their passports. An IOC spokesperson confirmed, “Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the competition eligibility rules.”
GLAAD and interACT, an organization supporting intersex youth, issued a fact sheet to correct the misinformation, clarifying that athletes with DSDs are not the same as transgender athletes. Laurel Powell, a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, criticized Vance’s remarks, stating, “This misinformation-fueled rhetoric is about forcing all women to conform to MAGA politicians’ weird ideal of femininity. JD Vance’s ideas about gender mean he thinks he gets to control our bodies, our healthcare decisions, and our lives.”
Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, condemned the attacks, emphasizing that Khelif is neither transgender nor identifies as intersex. Ellis stated, “Imane Khelif’s victory at the Paris 2024 Games should be celebrated, yet it has been overshadowed by baseless transphobia and misinformation. All Olympians should be able to compete free of discrimination and should be celebrated for their achievements in sport.”
