California Governor Gavin Newsom faced criticism from the Fresno County Democratic Party after making comments about transgender athletes during a recent podcast interview. The party accused him of straying from its values and platforming conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
In his podcast discussion, Newsom expressed concerns about fairness in youth sports competitions involving transgender athletes, echoing Republican arguments that banning them from female athletic competitions would ensure fairness. However, the Fresno County Democratic Party and its first vice-chair, Marsha Conant, disagreed with these views, stating that they contradict the party’s values of diversity and inclusion.
Newsom acknowledged that Democrats are struggling on this issue but did not offer a clear stance on how to address it. Instead, he expressed sympathy for transgender individuals, citing higher rates of suicide and depression, while also distancing himself from certain terms, such as “Latinx” and using pronouns.
This criticism comes as Democrats nationwide face scrutiny over policies regarding transgender participation in sports, sparking legal battles and legislation across multiple states. The Fresno County Democratic Party is urging its members to stand with their transgender community and promote inclusivity.
Source: https://gvwire.com/2025/03/07/newsom-condemned-by-fresno-county-democrats-over-transgender-remarks