Democratic Leaders Reluctant to Address Transgender Issues

A recent report reveals that among approximately 20 potential Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidential election, only one is willing to clearly state that a man cannot be a woman.

When Axios reached out to various Democratic leaders about their views on transgender topics, most refrained from providing a firm stance. This included notable figures like former Vice President Kamala Harris, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The inquiries posed included whether transgender girls assigned male at birth should compete in women’s sports, if minors should have access to puberty blockers and hormones, and whether a man can become a woman.

Interestingly, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was the only one to respond decisively. He reiterated that men cannot become women and expressed that biological males should not participate in women’s sports.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also offered their insights. Shapiro restated his belief that local sports bodies should handle decisions regarding transgender athletes, while personally considering that transgender youth might hold an unfair advantage in sports.

Buttigieg’s team reported that he acknowledged serious fairness concerns regarding transgender athletes while emphasizing compassion for transgender individuals during a previous interview.

In a discussion with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro last week, Newsom appeared to struggle with the topic, eventually affirming that boys can’t become girls. He mentioned that the numbers of those facing gender identity issues are small and highlighted the stigma surrounding them.

Despite his qualms, Newsom, often seen as a leading contender for the 2028 nomination, acknowledged in a previous debate that it is unfair for transgender women to compete against cisgender women in sports.