Main Edition
US
FR
September 25, 2023 - 1:00pm
Late on Friday evening, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have required affirmation of a child’s gender self-identification to be considered in custody and visitation disputes. In his veto message, Newsom praised the “passion and values that led the author to introduce this bill” and expressed his “deep” — and, somehow, “many decades-long” — “commitment to advancing the rights of transgender Californians”.
Newsom packaged his veto in the warning that “[o]ther-minded elected officials, in California and other states, could very well use this strategy to diminish the civil rights of vulnerable communities”— suggesting that other states may retaliate by favouring non-affirming parents in custody disputes.
There was a shorter way for Newsom to say all of this. What he meant was: I’m running for president. During his four years in office, the Governor’s signature has entrenched gender ideology in California’s schools, healthcare settings, and prisons in state law. There’s little reason to think he has had a sudden awakening to the potential harms of an agenda he has long supported. But what Newsom lacks in principles or scruples, he makes up for in political sensitivity: the political winds are shifting and thus he must shift, too — 0r at least appear to.
Predictably, California Democrats and advocacy organisations reacted with outrage. State Senator Scott Wiener — who has made a career from pushing controversial legislation putting male prisoners in women’s prisons, lowering the penalty for knowingly exposing a sexual partner to HIV, and making California a “sanctuary state” for trans-identified minors — decried the veto as a “tragedy for trans kids here & around the country.”
“These kids are living in fear, with right wing politicians working to out them, deny them health care, ban them from sports & restrooms & erase their humanity,” Wiener wrote.
There’s a lot going on here — as there is every time “pro-trans” politicians and advocacy organisations try to spin political setbacks. By “out[ing]” children, Wiener means notifying parents before schools embark on social transition, a serious psychosocial intervention that teachers and guidance counsellors are unqualified to enact. By “deny them health care,” he means refrain from the kinds of experimental hormonal and surgical interventions that European countries as conservative and hidebound as Finland and Sweden have stepped back from. By “ban them from sports”, the senator means requiring kids to compete with members of their own sex. “Eras[ing] their humanity” is a favoured flourish, a nebulous accusation designed to monster political opponents without getting specific enough to be refuted.
As far as the climate of fear goes, Wiener and his fellow activists are largely to blame. By misrepresenting their political opponents’ policies and intentions and engaging in rampant catastrophising, Wiener and co. instil irrational fears in members of a vulnerable community, then ride the votes, donations, and clicks that manufactured fear and outrage generate.
Join the discussion
Join like minded readers that support our journalism by becoming a paid subscriber
To join the discussion in the comments, become a paid subscriber.
Join like minded readers that support our journalism, read unlimited articles and enjoy other subscriber-only benefits.
SubscribeUgh. Newsom is beyond contempt. No single politician in the US has done more to push this radical agenda, and now he’s suddenly changed his mind overnight? He’s an empty sock puppet with no values and beliefs outside winning power. He’s a gross, creepy opportunist.
I disagree and I hope he runs for president and wins.
Totally respect your opinions CK, but are you being serious or pulling my leg? What could you possibly like?
weird
As far as contemptuous, gross, creepy, opportunistic, empty sock puppets go, I much prefer one who comes to the right decision on an issue of this importance (albeit for questionable reasons) over one who doesn’t.
“Newsom packaged his veto in the warning that … other states may retaliate by favouring non-affirming parents in custody disputes.”
As they should.
Wiener doth protest too much. Likely, he welcomes the veto if it advances Newsom’s nomination. What’s next? Possibly a state law legalizing defecating on sidewalks so Newson can veto that too.
I think it’s time for Californians of all genders to get their Wiener out.
*both genders
Just possibly, ordinary people are starting to see through the incessant propaganda and realise that gender dysphoria is really a disorder rather than the joyful expression of an authentic self. No other “coming out” leads to a lifetime of medication, surgery, sterility, stunted growth, weak bones, risk of heart and stroke problems, and loss of sexual pleasure and function. Transgenderism is the ultimate deceitful reactionary sales pitch of American hypercapitalism determined to monetise human distress.
It’s the sweet spot where the medical-industrial complex meets radical religious cultism.
What is worrying, is why so many people are pretending to support this nonsense?
Perhaps the gay and lesbian community – nominally quite powerful a lobby in California – have been warning Newsome of the backlash they might well face over the horizon of this ceaseless Democrat push for gender authoritarianism?
The obvious explanation is political opportunism. He knows it’s a losing issue outside California.
Newsom’s problem is indicative of the Democrats’ problem in general. Most of their leaders and prominent politicians are increasingly drawn from a few ultra-liberal locations, like California, whose politics are very unpopular outside those strongholds. The rest of the country knows this, and is suspicious of politicians from places like California, New York, Chicago, or the pacific northwest. The Democrats, if they have any sense at all, should nominate somebody from one of the purple states like Colorado, Arizona, Minnesota, or Pennsylvania, rather than try to convince the rest of the country that a California Democrat is actually a centrist. Nobody is gonna believe that. Moreover, nominating Newsom would be inviting the right wing press to put a big shiny spotlight on all the loony policies that are politically toxic everywhere else.
Truly one of our top tier narcissists. I’d love to live inside his head for a day and passively listen to the self-satisfied paeans he must surely be singing to himself all day long.
I’m not sure I’d credit him with being a narcissist. He’s probably just interested in power.
As most politicians are. It’s addictive.
Truly hilarious seeing the Trumpbots referring to anyone as a narcissist!
You guys really don’t get irony, do you?!?!? Comical!!!!
nor word salad.
You want to try that again, kiddo?!?!?
You want to try that again, ‘Poo Fash?!?!?
Imitation truly is the most sincere form of flattery!
Thanks Dickie!
You wouldn’t use all those punctuation marks if you had to sweep them up afterwards.
Truly hilarious seeing ‘Poo Fash referring to anyone as a narcissist!
You guys really don’t get irony, do you?!?!? Comical!!!!
Newsom is a perfect example of the elitist democrats who should never be taken seriously, but unfortunately are. They are connected and are so removed from the origins of the party that I am truly surprised that the true working folk support them! They believe in “rules for thee, but not for me”.
Newsom is a self-serving opportunist. A political chameleon. He wouldn’t recognize principle if it hit him between the eyes with a baseball bat. A very dangerous pretty boy, just like Justin Trudeau.
Yes! Another Justin
You should be so lucky!
Trump cultists getting all high and mighty about “principle”??!?! That’s fantastic!
Amusingly, he later OK’d a pro-trans measure. Like Kerry, he was against the bill before he was for it.
It’s an intelligent thing to change your mind on an issue as you become informed. It’s dogmatic not to.
I despair to think that Newson will somehow, shadily make his way in to the 24′ presidential race. Then, dealing with a media that lies and suppresses information constantly, he’ll somehow win. I mean, he’s somehow managed to hold on to power in that bleephole of a state, hasn’t he?
No he’s not. He’s getting ready to make a bid to become president of the US..
And I hope he wins.
Do you enjoy living in a permanent state of crisis and war?
Newsom is a slimey WEF stooge. Wonder what kompromat they have on him?
Still obsessing over trans folks I see…
Yes because this subject simply takes up too much political space. Many other subjects are much more important.
What’s more important than establishing safeguards to prevent children from being indoctrinated into an ideology that promotes medicalisation and surgery with lifelong ramifications?
What’s more important than protecting children from potentially harmful indoctrination?