John Reed Critiques Ghazala Hashmi on Transgender Issues

John Reed, a Republican vying for lieutenant governor in Virginia, has taken aim at his Democratic rival over her views on transgender ideology.

In a video obtained by Blaze News, Reed accused Democratic state Senator Ghazala Hashmi of disregarding concerns about transgender children. In the footage, she downplays worries about transgender ideology and claims proudly that she teaches LGBTQ-themed books that some advocate removing from children’s libraries.

“Public officials who say they aren’t concerned about their children being exposed to sexually explicit material in schools are really out of touch with what Virginia parents feel,” Reed stated.

Hashmi, on her part, mentioned that her main concern lies with violence rather than sexually explicit content, commenting, “It’s not something I focus on.”

She further stated, “We teach books that others want to ban.”

Reed criticized Hashmi, saying, “That’s Ghazala Hashmi. Instead of acting to protect children, she’s advocating extreme policies. While parents plead for decency, she laughs it off. She has classrooms filled with explicit literature and says it’s irrelevant.”

“I’m John Reed, and I’m running for lieutenant governor because I genuinely care,” he added. “It’s imperative we stand up, clean up our schools, and push Virginia forward.”

Despite Hashmi supporting her controversial views, she hasn’t engaged in a public debate with Reed. After she declined to participate in a recent debate, Reed organized a discussion using an AI-generated stand-in to represent her viewpoints.

Even without Hashmi present, Reed asserted that her statements “speak for themselves.”

“Parents deserve to know what’s in their kids’ classrooms,” he emphasized. “If elected, I will ensure that parents have a voice and a place at the table.”