Over the past month, California Governor Gavin Newsom has been making headlines for all the right reasons: he's led an effort to respond to Texas Republicans' push to further gerrymander their state, used his profile to pressure Border Patrol and ICE, and found a very effective-and hilarious-way to get under Trump's skin through his Press Office's parodies of the president's writing style. All of these actions have catapulted him to national stardom, where he's taken on the role of leading the fight against the Trump administration.
However, to the trans community, his rise only brings fear. Because before these developments, he was trying to win over potential voters in a very different way: by abandoning the LGBTQ+ community.
In the United States, California has long had a reputation. And not just for its stereotyped sunny weather, surfer culture, and affluent, snobby culture, but for its liberal politics as well. California Democrats are synonymous-especially in more Republican-leaning areas-with the liberal style of politics conservatives detest. It's so difficult to overcome that despite California's large population and plethora of Democratic figures with a national profile, of the three presidents from California, none of them have been Democrats.
Evidently, Newsom is facing an uphill battle. So he's set off to appear more palatable to conservatives, starting with LGBTQ+ issues. Beginning in 2024, he started attempting to suppress pro-LGBTQ+ bills while they were still in the legislature in order to keep him from having to either veto them-losing progressives-or sign them-angering conservatives. Then, he went public with his new opinions during a conversation with Charlie Kirk on his podcast earlier this year, calling trans athletes' participation in girls' and women's sports 'deeply unfair.' And more recently, he signalled he changed his stance on gender-affirming care for minors as well.
You do deserve protection, absolutely. Newsom is protecting you from the back while he's stabbing you in the front. He's all we have right now trying to keep the midterms from going to the right. If the right wins again, you'll lose every single protection you've ever had. You may be on the list next to go to the camps. We have to back this decision, but also yes, never forget and don't let him become president.
Edit: Also, no one is protecting the immigrants and US citizens right now either. The Texas dems that went to Illinois are the only other ones that I know of trying to offset the gerrymandering.
Newsom can’t be reelected as governor in 2026, neither Senator is up for reelection, and I don’t see Newsom running for Representative.
Literally no reason related to the midterms to not criticize the shit out of him. If trans people criticizing one of the most powerful governors in the US for being transphobic is what destroys the country then I think we were already there.
The midterms for the republicans gerrymandering and taking the senate and house. We're fucked if they do that again. It might already be too late. But you knew that was what I was talking about though, yeah?
How is me criticizing him for being transphobic stopping him from gerrymandering a state he’s already the fucking governor of??
Newsom also has no power to stop other states from gerrymandering.
And no, I can’t read your mind and I don’t play games. I’m trans and I’m pissed the fuck off I keep getting told to eat shit and be happy about it.
That's why I'm upvoting the post. I think people should know about it, but we have to support him doing the gerrymandering. We have to get more governors to do this type of stuff. We're all drowning here, not just you.
What part of ‘he’s already governor’ isn’t clear here? Me criticizing him for being transphobic doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be fighting against Trump and it sure as hell isn’t stopping him from gerrymandering.
Acting like I’m being self centered for talking about the literal subject of the post is also rich. Go take the guilt trip elsewhere. Advocating for myself doesn’t mean I’m ignoring what’s happening to other people.