Newsom Advocates for Culturally Normal Approach on Transgender Issues

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently shared his thoughts with CNN’s Dana Bash, suggesting that the Democratic Party should aim to be more “culturally normal” regarding topics like transgender athletes in women’s sports if they want to attract more voters.

During a lengthy interview on “Inside Politics,” Newsom discussed his new book, “Youth in a Hurry.” One key point raised was whether he still views transgender athletes as a divisive issue within the party.

“From a tactical, purely political standpoint, there’s no doubt that the Democratic Party needs to be, I hesitate to say, culturally normal, spending less time on pronouns and identity politics. We should focus more on pressing issues like rising electric bills, child care, medical expenses, and housing costs,” Newsom explained. He mentioned how easy it is to get sidetracked by less significant matters, and admitted he has fallen into that trap himself.

Newsom, who has been a prominent figure in support of Democratic views, acknowledged that there’s a need for more nuance, especially after facing backlash for his moderate stance. “If we can’t agree on competitive sports, there are subtleties in this big conversation. If we don’t find that nuance, we risk losing people who would be part of broader discussions,” he noted.

In response to his earlier comments on transgender issues—particularly those made in last year’s interview with Charlie Kirk, where he called biological men competing in women’s sports “very unfair”—Newsom said, “I said it and I still believe it. It’s not about the accusations against the trans community; rather, it’s about defending their rights, but sports is a separate concern.”

While facing criticism from some within his party, Newsom reaffirmed his commitment to being a strong advocate for the transgender community. “No one wants to discuss this issue because about 80% of listeners disagree with my perspective,” he remarked in a conversation with The New York Times. “But my feelings come from the heart, not just intellect. I want to support transgender children. I even have a transgender godson. I’ve signed more pro-trans bills than any other governor.”