Ed wrote earlier today about Gov. Gavin Newsom's surprising turn on the issue of trans people in women (and girls) sports. If you missed it, he admitted in response to Charlie Kirk that it was "deeply unfair" to women and girls.
Will Governor Gavin Newsom EVER say “No Men in Women’s Sports?”
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 6, 2025
I asked him. pic.twitter.com/xVlJSag0Bq
Reactions to this have been all over the map. Similar to what Ed said earlier, Riley Gaines noted that despite admitting this situation was unfair, Newsom didn't actually say he would do anything about it.
Wow. This is the first time I’ve seen Newsom directly asked this question. As you'd expect, he continues to sit on the fence.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) March 6, 2025
He admits the unfairness is a problem but won't take meaningful action out of fear of being perceived as unkind... https://t.co/ZqgLS4aEdL
She also posted this video reaction making the same point.
"We see you, Gavin Newsom. And we're watching." @Riley_Gaines_ responds to California Gov. Gavin Newsom saying that it's unfair for men to compete in women's sports. pic.twitter.com/2dgy2y6bSr
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 6, 2025
Meghan McCain asked if this meant other people who took the same position could no longer be accused of being hateful bigots.
Does this mean Gavin Newsom is "buying into the bullying of the trans community" as I was accused of doing this week for supporting biological females right not to compete against biological men in our sports?
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 6, 2025
Sincerely asking, or is it just conservative women labeled with this? https://t.co/rxfALUszTV
On that note, the Free Beacon points out that Newsom is one of the people who has previously attacked Caitlyn Jenner for holding the same position.
Gavin Newsom, Who Attacked Caitlyn Jenner for Saying It’s Unfair for Biological Boys To Compete in Girls’ Sports, Says It’s Unfair For Biological Boys To Compete in Girls’ Sportshttps://t.co/k3kZIaZ7r1
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) March 6, 2025
Scott Jennings saw it as a sign that (some) Democrats are finally trying to get on the winning side of an issue.
CNN’s @ScottJenningsKY on Gavin Newsom coming out against biological men competing in girls sports: “I think this whole revolution of common sense idea that Trump is pushing — this is the issue that maybe people associate with it the most, because if there ever was an 80/20 or… pic.twitter.com/dNeKUBdHIe
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) March 6, 2025
Does Newsom believe what he's saying? I found this meme pretty amusing.
when I see Gavin Newsom going on Charlie Kirk to pivot against trans women in girls’ sports pic.twitter.com/ZmSmbGey2H
— David Hines (@hradzka) March 6, 2025
On the other side of the aisle, some people are saying it's about time someone stated the obvious. "This is how I believe the vast majority of Democrats feel on the issue, but for some reason they aren't able to articulate it like Newsome does."
Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) has the perfect response to Charlie Kirk on the issue of transgender women playing men's sports, during his podcast "This is Gavin Newsom".
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) March 6, 2025
This is how I believe the vast majority of Democrats feel on the issue, but for some reason they aren't able to… pic.twitter.com/qNIcLwOIul
Hakeem Jeffries just seems unprepared and deeply confused. I always try to read things in the most favorable light to the speaker but in this case I have no idea what he's talking about. I can't even imagine an explanation that makes sense of this answer.
Reporter: Gavin Newsom said Democrats were in the wrong by allowing men to play women’s sports. What’s your response?
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 6, 2025
Jeffries: “What Democrats opposed was unleashing sexual predators on girls throughout the United States.” 🧐 pic.twitter.com/kRMQhP3Y5q
Rep. Seth Moulton, who news after the election by saying pretty much the same thing Newsome just did:
“Democrats spend way too much time trying not to offend anyone rather than being brutally honest about the challenges many Americans face,” said Representative Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts. “I have two little girls. I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat, I’m supposed to be afraid to say that.”
He was widely condemned at the time, including being called a Nazi cooperator, but he refused to back down. Today he seems glad to have some company.
“The true story is that we’ve seen in opinion poll after opinion poll that a majority of the country (and Democrats!) agree with this idea,” said Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), who got in hot water after saying that LGBTQ+ culture war issues were partially to blame for the party’s election losses last year. “More and more are willing to say what they’ve probably always thought — and that’s a good thing.”
An anonymous Democratic strategist agreed.
“We just stepped too far out of the bounds and let the far left drive the narrative,” said a Democratic strategist from a swing state, who was granted anonymity to speak freely. “Our own voters don’t agree with trans athletes in youth or college sports.”
But as you'd expect, plenty of Dems are condemning Newsom for what he said.
“It’s disgusting,” said Lori Lightfoot, the former Chicago mayor. “There are kids waking up today in California with this news thinking that their governor hates them, and rightly so.” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) urged Democrats to “not take the bait and give in to their anti trans people rhetoric,” though she hadn’t seen Newsom’s comments.
In his home state, Newsom got an earful from State Sen. Scott Wiener.
“The Governor has had many courageous moments over the decades supporting LGBTQ people, including helping turbo-charge the marriage equality movement, protecting LGBTQ kids against forced outing and criminalization, and protecting trans people from criminalization in other states. He has taken significant political hits for doing so. I and so many will be forever grateful for that courage.
“This is not one of those moments. Charlie Kirk is a vile bigot, and standing with him on this issue is profoundly disturbing.
“The Republican strategy to eliminate trans people is to create fake moral panics — to falsely paint trans people as threats. They’ve made a huge issue out of gender-affirming care for trans kids when the vast majority of trans kids don’t receive that care. They’re painting trans people who use restrooms or who are incarcerated as predators.
He's also hearing from advocacy groups.
Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang expressed his disappointment with the governor in a lengthy statement.
“We are profoundly disappointed and angered by Governor Newsom’s comments about transgender youth and their ability to participate in sports,” the statement reads in part. “Transgender kids—like all kids—deserve the chance to play sports alongside their teammates and learn important values like leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Transgender young people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”
Including from the HRC:
Kelley Robinson, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest L.G.B.T.Q. advocacy group, said Mr. Newsom’s comments were misguided and politically inept.
“The fight for equality has never been easy, but history doesn’t remember those who waver — it remembers those who refuse to back down,” Ms. Robinson said. “Our message to Governor Newsom and all leaders across the country is simple: The path to 2028 isn’t paved with the betrayal of vulnerable communities.”
If his goal was to separate himself from the far left on this issue, he seems to have succeeded.
Gavin Newsom knows that the trans youth in sports issue is a ridiculous, rightwing propaganda effort. He knows this is powered by anti-trans hatred, not reason.
— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) March 6, 2025
And yet, he still chose to endorse attacks on trans youth to bolster his national profile for a 2028 presidential run.…
What are the odds he walks this back tomorrow? I'd say at least 40%.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member