Governor of California Changes His Tune: He Agrees Men and Boys Don't Belong In Women's Sports

Looks like someone from the “left” (let’s face it, most Dems would be considered centre right in the UK) is throwing their hat in the ring for 2028.

However, I really do think it would be a mistake for them to nominate another Californian - the Republicans will tar them with the “liberal coastal elite” brush. Whether we like it or not, the next Democratic nominee needs to be white, straight, male and location-wise from “one of the ones in the middle”.

It is really interesting.

It is like watching the realisation that gender identity theory was being rejected as the priority over sex when sex matters is a universal belief (ie it is across the political divide) dawn on some MPs influential in the Labour Party.

BBC report. I actually found Newsom's admission that Trump's they/them campaign was 'devastating' even more significant.

'The governor referred to a viral Trump campaign ad that had the tagline: "Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you."
"It was devastating," Newsom said. "And she didn't even react to it, which was even more devastating.'

Sounds like someone within the Democrats has admitted that this issue was one of the major reasons Trump won. They seem to have been in complete denial up to now.

Wow! That's progress.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz03ye4j8rzo

BBC report. I actually found Newsom's admission that Trump's they/them campaign was 'devastating' even more significant.

'The governor referred to a viral Trump campaign ad that had the tagline: "Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you."
"It was devastating," Newsom said. "And she didn't even react to it, which was even more devastating.'

Sounds like someone within the Democrats has admitted that this issue was one of the major reasons Trump won. They seem to have been in complete denial up to now.

The rarely-spotted Blue Californian variety, no less. My, my.

Ah, one of the wonders of the natural world - the reversing ferret

Has this been shared? Apologies if it has

https://www.axios.com/2025/03/07/senate-democrats-transgender-womens-sports

Senate Democrats punt on trans rights in women's sports

It is an interesting read. Here also is Cathy Devines tweets about it.

x.com/cathydevine56/status/1897992308416450892?s=46

'Democrats privately admit they need a sharper response to counter Republican attacks on their support for transgender rights, especially when it involves sports.'

'Some Senate Democrats agreed with Newsom on the sports fairness issue, but they said to be careful that the overall conversation doesn't demonize transgender athletes. They also want to avoid federal overreach.'

It's interesting that 'The Democratic messaging effort has been spearheaded by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.)'
'Baldwin, the first openly gay person elected to the Senate, faced a barrage of attacks on the topic in her 2024 reelection campaign.'

She seems to have accepted this is an issue. But says 'I trust parents, schools and local sports leagues to make these decisions for their children'. This is a cop out. It means those with the loudest voices will win out.

Parents, schools & local sports leagues should not have to weigh the scientific evidence & navigate tricky political & lobbying waters, school by school & league by league. We already know girls are silenced in this debate.

Please learn from the UK. @SenateDems need to take a leadership position. Come out calmly & clearly for fairness & safety for women & girls in sex-affected sports. In contrast with Republicans insist on anti-bullying policies for boys & men with trans identities in male sport.

As for:
'There's no one set of facts.'
Er ... yes there is. Males take M performance advantage into F sport. Even if T suppressed.
'These are going to be pretty complicated situations.' No. They really are not. There are 2 sexes & 2 sex categories. For very good reasons.

-end-

Wow this could be a game changer.
At last the tide is turning within the Democrat Party.

Emily Jashinsky gives her take

Amazing isn't it that they can't look over the pond and see how no debate went in the UK. If you declare that even talking about the issue means that you hate trans children that doesn't shut down the conversation but it shows that you have no argument as to why this is fair.

I would respect them so much more if they just admitted that its not fair but that they've chosen to prioritise trans children as a form of affirmative action. Affirmative action is incredibly politically unpopular but I'd respect them much more if they just admitted what they were up to instead of making bad faith arguments about hatred or genital inspections

The hyperbole in that Politico piece is absolutely unhinged. All about how hurt the trans children will be but no consideration for safety and fairness for women.

Lori Lightfoot. My word.

Being denounced by the worst mayor in Chicago's history is exactly the kind of reaction Newsom will have wanted to provoke.

'Politico has not one, not two, but FIVE reporters covering the fallout of Gavin Newsom’s comments about men in women’s sports during my interview with him. Lori Lightfoot says he’s “disgusting.” Sacramento is in an uproar. Democrats all over the country say that this issue is a litmus test for the party going forward. Democrats simply cannot handle taking an L in the culture war.

https://x.com/charliekirk11/status/1897800116138131480

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/06/democrats-trans-sports-2028-00216585

Edit: Oh, I see this was already shared. Sorry.

I have to think the Dems would be mad to nominate two Californian candidates in a row. Worse than that, two San Franciscans, bearing in mind how the rest of California feels about San Francisco.

On the other hand, he's capable, intelligent and opportunistic. That might be as good as it gets.

My instinct is that Shapiro would be the candidate to beat, so I'm looking to see what he says.

Being a Californian he is well briefed on Latino/ Latino sentiment. Including their hatred of Latinx. On the other hand he is yet another corporate shill.

As one meme has it - ' The nothing of Clinton have us Bush. The nothing of Obama gave us Trump.'
Bittersweet.

Also in 2028, the Olympics. In Los Angeles.

Newsom is also known to be Obama's preferred presidential candidate. Would be interesting to know if Barry has had a conversation with him about this.

The next thing to watch is if the other governors thinking of running in 2028 start to reverse ferret. Josh Shapiro, Gretchen Whitmer, Wes Moore, over to you.

It is possible to realise you’re wrong and change your mind, though.

Lots on here have done just that.

This confirms my view that Newsom,like many of his Democrat and Republican colleagues, is an unprincipled political opportunist.

I do not believe he cares about women, girls or vulnerable children. He would push them all under a bus if it boosted his ratings.

That was absolutely bizarre. Glitching politician!

I have to confess, I've been agog at the Democrats these last few weeks. They (the politicians not the voters) seem to have lost their minds. I hope this is the start of a return to reality,

This is huge.

Gov. Newsom was mayor of San Francisco and a big supporter of same-sex marriage long before many leading Democrats. He defied state law to marry same-sex couples in 2004.

Someone as pro-equality as Newsom having these views will make many Democrats who haven’t questioned this up till now look again at this issue. Although there has been fury from LGBT organisations, his consistent support for gay rights will also make some people ask whether LGB & T rights necessarily belong together in the way that activists have claimed.

Y'know, we have cheek swabs at elite sports level now for sex verification. At school age, just use the child's birth certificate.

The only time anyone inspected my genitals in connection with sport as a child, it was my GP because I'd met the pommel horse rather violently during PE and was bleeding from my vulva.