THE GOVERNOR SAID. A SOMBER FEELING IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT’S WHAT MANY ANTHONY ROMERO DESCRIBES. SHE AND HER FRIENDS ARE FEELING AFTER HEARING GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S FIRST PODCAST EPISODE. THIS IS GAVIN NEWSOM AND THIS IS CHARLIE KIRK. AFTER THE TWO TOUCHED ON TRANS ATHLETES IN FEMALE SPORTS. WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WOULD YOU SAY NO MEN AND FEMALE SPORTS? WELL, I THINK IT’S AN ISSUE OF FAIRNESS. I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. IT IS AN ISSUE OF FAIRNESS. SO IT’S DEEPLY. WOULD YOU SPEAK? IT KIND OF PUTS A DAMPER ON, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I VOTED FOR THIS GUY MYSELF ON THE BASIS THAT, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA IS LEADING THE WAY IN TRANSGENDER RIGHTS. NEWSOM MADE THE COMMENTS DURING A SIT DOWN WITH CONTROVERSIAL CONSERVATIVE INFLUENCER CHARLIE KIRK, WHO ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD SAY NO TO MEN IN FEMALE SPORTS AND IF HE WOULD SPEAK OUT AGAINST AB HERNANDEZ, A TRANSGENDER ATHLETE WHO RECENTLY SET THE HIGHEST OUTDOOR LONG JUMP MARK IN THE NATION. COMPLETELY FAIR ON THE ISSUE OF FAIRNESS, I COMPLETELY AGREE. SO THAT’S EASY TO CALL OUT. THE UNFAIRNESS OF THAT. THERE’S ALSO A HUMILITY AND GRACE THAT YOU KNOW, THAT THAT THESE POOR PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT SUICIDE, HAVE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, AND THE WAY THAT PEOPLE TALK DOWN TO VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IS AN ISSUE THAT I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH AS WELL. ROMERO, WHO HAS VOTED FOR NEWSOM IN THE PAST ON THE BASES THAT CALIFORNIA WAS LEADING THE WAY FOR TRANSGENDER RIGHTS, FEELS THAT HER COMMUNITY IS BEING USED TO EARN POLITICAL POINTS FOR A FUTURE PRESIDENTIAL RUN AND HOPES HE’S UP FOR DISCUSSING ISSUES AFFECTING ALL CALIFORNIANS. IT’S ALL A DIVERSION FROM THE REAL ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO TACKLE. COST OF LIVING, HOUSING, IMMIGRATION, UNEMPLOYMENT. YOU KNOW THIS POST-COVID INFLATION, WE ALL WANT TO GET DOWN. YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE REAL ISSUES TO BE FOCUSING ON. INSTEAD OF THE SALEM WITCH TRIAL AGAINST TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS. WE REACHED OUT TO NEWSOM’S OFFICE TODAY WHO REFERRED US BACK TO THE COMMENTS HE MADE IN THE PODCAST, MARICELA DE LA CRUZ. KCRA THREE NEWS. AND AT THE MOMENT, THERE ARE TWO CALIFORNIA BILLS, ONE THAT WOULD BAN PEOPLE BORN MALE FROM PARTICIPATING ON A GIRLS OR WOMEN’S TEAM. ANOTHER WOULD REQUIRE ATHLETES TO COMPETE ON THE TEAM OF THEIR SEX FROM BIRTH, AND NOT THEIR GENDER IDENTITY. BOTH REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND AUTHORS OF THOSE BILLS RESPONDED TO THE GOV

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first episode of his new podcast is already stirring controversy and garnering backlash, including from those who voted for him in the past.Newsom, who was joined by conservative activist Charlie Kirk, used the inaugural episode of “This is Gavin Newsom” to break from progressives by speaking out against allowing transgender women and girls to compete in female sports.”I think it’s an issue of fairness, I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness — it’s deeply unfair,” Newsom told Kirk.The governor did attempt to mitigate his comments, saying the discussion is about more than the rules of competition.”There’s also a humility and a grace that these poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression, and the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities is an issue that I have a hard time with, as well,” Newsom said.Manny Anthony Romero, a transgender woman, voted for Newsom in the past. But now, she feels that the transgender community is being used as a political talking point. “It’s all a diversion from the real issues that we need to tackle,” Romero said. She feels that Newsom talked about the transgender community in a way to set himself up for a future run for President. But she hopes he’s up for discussing issues that affect all Californians.”Cost of living, housing, immigration, unemployment, you know, this post-Covid inflation that we all want to get down,” Romero said. “Those are the real issues to be focusing on, instead of the Salem witch trial against transgender individuals.”Romero said the podcast left her and her friends in the transgender community feeling somber. KCRA reached out to Newsom’s office, however, they just referred us back to the comments he made in the podcast.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first episode of his new podcast is already stirring controversy and garnering backlash, including from those who voted for him in the past.

Newsom, who was joined by conservative activist Charlie Kirk, used the inaugural episode of “This is Gavin Newsom” to break from progressives by speaking out against allowing transgender women and girls to compete in female sports.

“I think it’s an issue of fairness, I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness — it’s deeply unfair,” Newsom told Kirk.

The governor did attempt to mitigate his comments, saying the discussion is about more than the rules of competition.

“There’s also a humility and a grace that these poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression, and the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities is an issue that I have a hard time with, as well,” Newsom said.

Manny Anthony Romero, a transgender woman, voted for Newsom in the past. But now, she feels that the transgender community is being used as a political talking point.

“It’s all a diversion from the real issues that we need to tackle,” Romero said.

She feels that Newsom talked about the transgender community in a way to set himself up for a future run for President. But she hopes he’s up for discussing issues that affect all Californians.

“Cost of living, housing, immigration, unemployment, you know, this post-Covid inflation that we all want to get down,” Romero said. “Those are the real issues to be focusing on, instead of the Salem witch trial against transgender individuals.”

Romero said the podcast left her and her friends in the transgender community feeling somber.

KCRA reached out to Newsom’s office, however, they just referred us back to the comments he made in the podcast.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel