EPISODE PREMIERES SUNDAY, MAY 12 AT 8PM ET/PT
NEW YORK, NY – (May 6, 2024) – The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper, a CNN Original, returns with immersive reporting on transgender student athletes, a community finding themselves at the center of a culture war. “The Playing Field: The Battle Over Transgender Athletes” premieres Sunday, May 12 at 8pm ET/PT on CNN.
At least 24 states in the US have already passed some form of ban on trans student athletes. “The Playing Field: The Battle Over Transgender Athletes” takes a deep look at the stories of those targeted by this legislation, following them for more than a year. The episode follows the emotional journey of a trans high school softball player, who advocates for her right to play on her school’s girls’ softball team all the way to the Ohio State Senate. It also features the story of a trans college swimmer in New Jersey hoping to successfully petition the NCAA to allow her to switch from competing on the men’s team to the women’s team.
“The Playing Field” also features reporting from inside the annual meeting of an advocacy group calling for a ban on transgender women in women’s sports divisions, arguing that transgender athletes have an unfair competitive advantage. Although a 2017 Sports Medicine study concluded there is “no direct or consistent research” showing that transgender people have an athletic advantage, psychologists, medical doctors, former and current athletes gather to argue otherwise.
The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper is executive produced by Susan Chun.
The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper will stream live for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV and mobile apps on Sunday, May 12. “The Playing Field: The Battle Over Transgender Athletes” will also be available on demand beginning Monday, May 13 to pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV and mobile apps, and Cable Operator Platforms. Past episodes of The Whole Story are available to stream on demand now on Max.
The Whole Story is also available as a CNN Audio showcast. Visit CNN.com/audio or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
