California Gov. Gavin Newsom does not like being on Donald Trump's side on any issue.
But when it comes to transgender girls and women in sports, particularly at the school level, the Democrat said he largely agrees with the Republican president. Newsom, one of his party's leading White House prospects, believes it's "deeply unfair" for people who are assigned male at birth to compete against girls.
"I don't want to be on that side of it, but I'm being honest — I'd be lying to you if I said differently," Newsom told The Associated Press as he was campaigning recently in South Carolina. "I haven't been able to figure out how to make it fair from my perspective."
Newsom is not alone.
While most Democratic officials remain steadfast supporters of the transgender community, an increasing number in red and blue states are distancing themselves from their party's unflinching support for the transgender community's policy priorities, such as allowing athletes to compete on teams that match their gender identity. The shift follows years of conservative attacks against Democrats on the divisive issue, which affects a relatively small number of transgender people and their families, but has emerged as one of Republicans' most potent political weapons in the Trump era.
The way California handled it at women's state track this past season I think is a fair balance. There was a MTF gal that took second in some race, and she and another each got credit for second place. At least until a better solution comes up, I don't see why that would be an issue.
I can see an argument why that's not fair to a trans individual for singling them out, but in that same vein there's an argument about how a MTF may have biological advantages over the competition.
If the above can't be achieved, I think allowing trans in sports is the right call. As someone that was a competitive athlete, I have to admit that I didn't just jump to this opinion and did have to reason with myself. I was never against it, but still had instinctive doubts.
That's not to defend Newsome at all, he's a snake. Even if these are is true beliefs, that he doesn't want to be on that side and perhaps it's a moral dilemma he knows is wrong, he can absolutely do better than this.