California’s governor race has largely focused on affordability, housing, and responses to Donald Trump, while transgender rights have received less attention. Tom Steyer, a progressive billionaire and Democratic candidate polling third, made a case for allowing trans student-athletes to participate in school sports. He said support for trans athletes in high school follows from understanding the vulnerability, stress, and danger faced by trans kids, including that nearly half attempt suicide. He argued that excluding trans students from team sports would punish them and cut them off from support. California law already requires student-athletes to play on teams matching their gender identity, despite protests and federal investigations.
"“I'm totally in favor of trans athletes in high school,” Steyer said during an interview with the “I've Had It ” podcast. “When you understand the vulnerability, the stress, the danger of being a trans kid, and you understand almost half of them try to commit suicide, then you think, 'We're gonna punish those kids, we're gonna cut them off from team sport?' It's like, no, we're not.”"
"Current California law mandates that all student-athletes in the state be allowed to play on teams matching their gender identity. The policy has seen protests in conservative school districts and inspired investigations by the Trump administration in its crusade against transgender identity. The law was signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown (D) in 2013."
"On Monday, however, Tom Steyer, the progressive billionaire and former presidential candidate, running as a Democrat and currently polling third in the race, made an emotional case for allowing trans student-athletes to play sports in California schools. In the muddled race for California governor, transgender rights have not been at the forefront of issues that several candidates in the campaign have focused on."
Read at LGBTQ Nation
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