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.
😂 imagine using the two least popular candidates in the last 30 years as your position's defense.
It worked out exactly like you'd expect they lost. Surprise!
If you don't like it stop voting for shitty candidates like gavin and biden.
Haha this is exactly my point. Whiny babies didn't like enough Kamala so chose to morally justify doing nothing to stop a fascist from running the government. This despite the fact that nearly all of her policies were significantly closer to theirs than the alternative. But I guess if a candidate crosses the same hard line as their competition, then just not participating will stop you from feeling bad I guess?
'liking' is doing a lot of heavy lifting i think you meant an anti Palestinian, anti trans, antiworker, and genocidal candidate.
It was hardly 'shes not fascist' the cunt was running around with fucking liz chaney for gods sake child.
Anyways thankfully i dont have to deal with you im happy to continue not voting for your shitty candidates.
Hey thanks for helping elect the candidate who is instead
I didnt vote for him shrug. Its funny how you accuse others as whining but the only one whining here is you.
But please continue dont let me stop you. After all clearly your continued support for absolutely shitty centrists corporate democrats has been hugely successful.
So successful in fact they managed to convince muslim americans to vote for trump out of spite, costing harris two critical states. 😂
Oh? She was against the Genocide? Pro Healthcare for all? Wanted to stop war? Wanted the rich to pay taxes? Wanted to change the immigration system to help people get here and get set up? Wanted to clear out the prisons in favor of programs to help people get back on their feet and become useful members of society? Wanted to stop bombing kids? Wanted to completely restructure the economy so that it works for the people and not the rich? Wanted to tear down the torture prisons? Wanted to completely reform drug laws? Wanted to put war-criminals in prison, even if they are rich and powerful politicians?
Because I didn't get that impression from her campaign, but maybe I just missed it.
Oops, didn't want to do a revolution, so basically equivalent to the alternative. Both sides same.