Billionaire Tom Steyer backs trans athletes in high school sports debate
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California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer defended transgender athletes competing in high school sports in a podcast released Sunday, arguing that excluding transgender youth from athletics would worsen the emotional and mental health issues many already face.
Steyer: “I’m definitely in favor of transgender athletes in high school.” he told the “I Did This” podcast host Jennifer Welch.
“Once you understand the vulnerability and the stress and the danger of being a trans kid, and when you realize that almost half of them try to commit suicide, you think, ‘We’re going to punish these kids, we’re going to take them away from team sports.’ It’s like no we’re not.”
Steyer made similar statements He speaks to CBS Los Angeles but they also branded opponents for perpetuating a “right-wing attempt” to denigrate transgender people.
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Tom Steyer is also concerned about transgender athletes in high school as he runs for governor. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for TIME)
“To be clear, this is not a huge epidemic,” he said. “This is a right-wing attempt to victimize and vilify people who are already vulnerable and helpless, and my heart goes out to the people who are completely upset, who feel so rejected and so unaccepted that half of them will try to kill themselves.”
Steyer is among a crowd of Democrats vying to retain party control of the governorship when incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom’s term ends.
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Democratic candidates Antonio Villaraigosa, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra and Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco participate in the California gubernatorial debate at the East Los Angeles College Auditorium in Monterey Park, Calif., on May 5 ahead of the June 2 primary. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, former California State Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, former California State Controller Betty Yee and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond round out the list.
The remaining Democratic candidates echoed some of Steyer’s view; Porter argued that youth sports aim to build character and teamwork rather than simply determining who is the best.
When pressed on existing state law that allows students to participate in activities based on gender identity, Becerra called for officials to continue protecting certain classes in accordance with the law.
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The remaining Democratic candidates echoed some of Steyer’s stance on transgender youth athletes. (OutKick/Fox News Digital)
Others offered more nuanced answers.
Mahan initially criticized those using the issue as a “political lightning rod” to “score political points”, but noted that a biological man might become aware of injustice if he played football against his young daughter.
“That would be a conversation we would have, and I can imagine that wouldn’t be fair,” he said.
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“But I also think we’ve gotten caught up in actually using this as a litmus test for demonizing differences, dividing people, scoring political points, and I’m not going to be a governor who just allows vulnerable people to be punching bags,” he said.
Villaraigosa dismissed the controversy as “no problem” but said he opposed discrimination while stating his personal belief that biological males who have gone through puberty should not compete in women’s sports.
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Yee emphasized the need to identify ways to promote fairness while ensuring the participation of everyone; Thurmond, however, took a more definitive approach to supporting transgender athletes.
Meanwhile, Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco support reversing existing legislation allowing the practice.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
