California Governor Gavin Newsom has suggested his state may need to re-examine its landmark 2013 law that allows transgender students to participate in school sports aligned with their gender identity, citing concerns over fairness while maintaining that he is not anti-trans.
“I disagree with all the vitriol, but I agree on the issue of fairness in that respect, that it is unfair in these circumstances, and I haven’t been able to reconcile it,” Newsom told KQED last Friday during an interview.
The 2013 law, signed by then-Governor Jerry Brown, was once uncontroversial but has come under growing scrutiny since 2021, when conservative lawmakers nationwide began targeting trans rights—particularly in schools and athletics—as part of a broader political strategy.
Back in March, Newsom voiced concerns during an interview with the late conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, saying it’s “deeply unfair” that trans girls participate in school sports. He reiterated the sentiment in July, stating he’s heard concerns from “good human beings,” not just conservatives.
“Because you oppose sports does not make you a bigot, doesn’t make you homophobic,” Newsom said. “And my party needs to stop saying that.”
Addressing his current stance, Newsom told KQED: “There’s some nuance here. I don’t roll people under the bus, quite the contrary. But when it comes to sports, that’s impacting other people’s rights.”
While acknowledging the significance of the state’s policy, Newsom did not outline how the law should be changed, instead saying: “I think we have to figure this out. It’s a difficult—This is not the issue. And what I hate about the other side, they’re making a—They’re colouring this in as if it’s a major issue.”
In defence of his record on LGBTQ+ rights, Newsom stressed: “There’s not one person you’ve had on-air who has a better record on trans rights than this person you’re talking to, period full stop.”
He cited his long-standing advocacy for trans communities, pointing to his numerous appointments and bills in support of trans rights, as well as decisions affecting the state’s retirement system. “It’s a point of pride that I’ve done that.”
He also recalled pushing for trans inclusion during his time as San Francisco’s mayor, asserting that he once criticised the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for not including trans protections. “I was attacking HRC because they weren’t including trans rights back in 2004, 5, 6,” he said, though specific examples of this criticism weren’t detailed.
Newsom, who revealed he has a trans godson, said the topic of school sports requires a different consideration than other trans rights issues. “That’s impacting other people’s rights,” he emphasised.
“And I say this with a trans godson. I have only one godson, who’s trans. And so with love and grace in my heart and in that exact exchange with Charlie [Kirk], I said, these people just wanna survive.”
“I disagree with all the vitriol, but I agree on the issue of fairness in that respect, that it is unfair in these circumstances, and I haven’t been able to reconcile it.”
The full exchange aired around the 18:30 mark in the KQED interview.
