having a discussion about the very gray area of trans athletes participation in competitive sports is not bigotry. its human. happens all the time - all over the USA. Apparently a LOT of people need to get a grip. Is he pandering - who the fuck cares. Concentrate on keeping trans kids alive please.
It's a tough topic. I don't know what the right answer is, but I am fairly confident, it's not the topic Dems should be leading our messaging with. Lead with stuff that brings people together to vote for you, not topics that are used to divide or distract.
Charlie Kirk said that trans people are butchering children in California and Newsom replied, “I have a lot to learn.” You can have questions about the 4 trans kids in your state trying to play highschool sports, but should at least be able to say “let’s not say that.”
I’d agree that’s a BS answer, but I also think it’s part of not trying to get bogged down on a GOP distraction attempt. You can even go with the old “agree to disagree”.
There are actually so few trans kids that treating it like a “culture defining” issue is already buying into reactionary propaganda. The narrative only serves the right. That’s why talking to a notoriously bad faith pundit like Kirk is just mistake period.
You can’t pierce their bubble if you’re not willing to engage it.
I can’t agree more, but we have to know who we are talking to. Charlie Kirk is not someone who is on the engagement list as he doesn’t come in good faith… ever. The only way to engage with that is debate, not conversation, because he’s so explicitly motivated.
Whether Kirk or not seems less important to me. Piercing the right wing hold on the bro space and toxic masculinity is something Dems need to do.
If I wanted to bridge the divide between conservative Christians and gay people, I wouldn’t talk to independent fundamentalist baptists who think all gay people are pedos and should be executed. I care about Kirk because that’s not how you pierce the bubble. That’s how you validate insanity.