California’s LGBTQ Caucus is “sickened and disgusted” by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) comments calling transgender-identifying male participation on female sports teams “deeply unfair.”
Chris Ward, Democrat Assemblymember and chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, told CapRadio that “we were certainly caught off guard and woke up incredibly sickened and disgusted” to see someone who has been an ally of our community use such language.
Ward added that, while he admires Newsom’s previous leadership on LGBTQ+ issues, his comments about transgender athletes are perplexing.
“Transgender kids just like any other student – although a very, very small part of the population – deserve a chance to benefit from what sports have to offer,” Ward told the crowd.
According to Breitbart News, Newsom discussed male participation on female sports teams during the first episode of his new podcast “This is Gavin Newsom” on iHeartMedia, where he spoke with conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.
Newsom started the podcast last year and recently revamped it, saying he wanted to interview people from the MAGA movement. (Newsom’s office has repeatedly declined requests for interviews with or about Breitbart News.
“Would you do something like that? “Would you say no men in female sports?” Kirk asked.
“I believe it is a matter of fairness, and I completely agree. “It is a matter of fairness; it is deeply unfair,” Newsom responded.
“I am not wrestling with the fairness issue,” Newsom added. “I completely agree with you.” I adore sports. So, the issue of fairness is entirely legitimate.
“There’s also a humility and a grace that these poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression and the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities is an issue that I have a hard time with as well,” says Newsom. “So, both things I can hold in my hand.”
Other LGBTQ+ activists had been criticizing Newsom for appearing to waver in his support for the far-left and “gender identity,” the false notion that one can identify or become a different sex than they were born as.
“Vulnerable communities must not be betrayed on the path to 2028…” It is based on the courage to stand up for what is right and work hard to help the American people,” according to the Human Rights Campaign.
Jorge Reyes Salinas of Equality California also stated that his remarks were shocking.
“We know that throughout his career, Governor Newsom has been a leader on LGBTQ issues,” Reyes said. “We’re demanding that he continues to do that to safeguard and to defend the rights and dignity of all LGBTQ people and that includes transgender Californians.”
According to Breitbart Senior Editor-at-Large Joel Pollak, Newsom’s “publicity stunt” appeared to be an attempt to “burnish Newsom’s bipartisan credentials ahead of a possible run for the presidency in 2028, [b]ut it backfired badly after Newsom, who built his career on LGBTQ causes, backtracked.”
Just weeks ago, athletic institutions in Newsom’s state defied President Donald Trump’s executive order prohibiting male athletes from participating on female sports teams as a condition of federal funding.
Newsom and state leaders have also pushed back against local school districts’ requests to notify parents if their children express a desire to change genders. Last year, Newsom signed legislation banning such notifications.
