California Governor Gavin Newsom was hesitant to give a clear response regarding the age at which a child is too young for transgender surgery.
During a discussion on Sean Ryan’s podcast, Newsom mentioned that this is a “major issue” for Democrats, yet he refrained from sharing his personal views.
“Yeah, now I’m nine, now I’m nine, a man, a man, a man, a man, a man, a man, take a look,” Newsom said when asked about whether an 8-year-old should receive treatment.
Jamie Reid, who identifies as a Democrat and is a whistleblower from a transgender clinic, expressed dissatisfaction with Newsom’s answers during an appearance on “Fox & Friends.”
“He doesn’t answer questions,” Reid commented. “As a lifelong Democrat, I’m really disappointed that someone aiming to lead the party can’t respond to basic scientific questions.”
In the podcast, Newsom pointed out that discussions regarding transgender surgery for minors are crucial for the upcoming 2024 election and could potentially impact Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential aspirations.
Reid asserted that Newsom’s reluctance to clarify his position might stem from a broader lack of understanding regarding contentious health topics.
“Part of the reason he pivots and avoids questions is that Democrats now need to start with an apology,” she stated. “We got this wrong. It hurt our kids and families. Sorry.”
While transgender treatment for minors isn’t widespread in the U.S., it has sparked intense debate, especially between the Trump administration and California.
In February, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a memo reminding hospitals and federally funded healthcare providers that they must offer gender treatment, such as hormone therapy and surgeries for transgender youth.
This statement was in response to the Trump administration’s directive, which threatened to freeze or withdraw federal funding from programs providing this type of care.
Reid criticized Newsom for downplaying the seriousness of the issue due to his lack of a firm stance.
“Gavin behaves in this interview as if he doesn’t grasp what’s at stake,” she said. “If he’s unaware of how policies impact families in his state, how can he consider running for president?”
In 2022, Newsom had declared California a sanctuary for families seeking treatment for minors, signing the bill amid other states’ efforts to ban such practices, including Tennessee.
