Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate from Michigan, declared himself as “cisgender and straight” in a video that surfaced on social media on Wednesday.
“I’ve always existed in the world as a cisgender and straight individual,” El-Sayed stated.
He has touched on similar themes before while discussing transgender topics. In an episode of his America Dissected podcast with Dr. Kellan Baker, he referred to himself as a “cis straight man” and explored how his life experiences contrast with those of LGBTQ individuals.
“I need to be upfront about this. I’m a cis straight man. I’ve never faced concerns over violence targeted at me because of my gender or sexual orientation,” El-Sayed explained to Baker. “This has, I think, sometimes left me with a bit of a blind spot regarding the persistent hate and marginalization that LGBTQ+ individuals frequently endure. Though I have certainly encountered my share of negative experiences for other reasons.”
Gender-affirming care is a significant part of El-Sayed’s campaign as he runs against Republican Mike Rogers. His agenda includes this issue within a healthcare section specifically focused on women and LGBTQ Americans.
His campaign website indicates that healthcare choices should rest with patients and their healthcare providers, involving parents when minors are concerned. It also opposes legal penalties and financial limitations that would hinder providers offering such care.
During an appearance in August on Fox News Channel’s Jesse Watters Primetime, El-Sayed defended his stance, which turned into a debate about procedures for minors, eventually pivoting to circumcision.
When asked if he supported sex reassignment for minors, El-Sayed maintained that healthcare decisions should be made by patients, their parents, and doctors rather than the government.
“Are you circumcised?” he inquired of Watters, who had been pressing him on the matter.
Watters confirmed he was but dismissed the analogy, stating, “A circumcision isn’t the same as castration.”
In response, El-Sayed accused Watters of being inconsistent about when he favored government intervention in medical choices, reiterating that those decisions ought to be private matters among patients, their parents, and their healthcare providers.
