On Trans Visibility Day, Democrats confront Trump — and themselves
Since the November election, Democrats have contemplated how much their support for transgender people played into their losses.
Some Democrats — such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts — have come out against transgender athletes participating in women’s sports, drawing backlash from within their party.
Others, however, have insisted the party needs to stand firm in its support for transgender people and not bow to GOP attacks.
Those tensions remain high as advocates prepare to mark International Transgender Day of Visibility for the first time since President Donald Trump took back the White House. After heavily campaigning on restoring what he called common sense, Trump has moved to restrict access to gender-affirming care, reinstate a ban on transgender people serving openly in the military and block new passports for transgender Americans that correspond with their gender identities.
Meanwhile, in Congress, the first openly transgender member — Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Delaware) — has been grappling with GOP attacks since she was sworn in two months ago.
The Christopher Street Project, a group launched in January to advocate for transgender people, is marking the day of visibility with a rally on the National Mall featuring over 20 members of Congress. The group includes the No. 2 House Democrat, Rep. Katherine Clark(Massachusetts).
Tyler Hack, executive director for the Christopher Street Project, told us the that Trump administration is attacking “all ways of life for trans people” and that the rally is meant to show that “we’re here and not going anywhere.” In our interview, Hack also addressed the tensions inside the Democratic Party on the topic.
- “I think the Democratic Party is in a moment of reckoning and rebuilding, and we need to decide who we are here to represent,” Hack said. “We are here to say the Democratic Party both can’t abandon trans people because it’s wrong and [also say] that doing so won’t make them magically win their elections.”
Newsom’s backlash
Perhaps the most striking fissure inside the party came this month, when Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, called it “deeply unfair” to allow transgender girls and women to compete in women’s sports. He made the remark during the debut episode of his podcast, in which he interviewed prominent pro-Trump activist Charlie Kirk.
Pro-LGBTQ+ groups, including the Christopher Street Project, criticized Newsom’s comment, suggesting it won’t help with his potential White House ambitions. The head of the Human Rights Campaign warned Newsom that the “path to 2028 isn’t paved with the betrayal of vulnerable communities.”
Newsom appeared Friday on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” and defended his position on transgender athletes as he more broadly argued that the Democratic brand has become “toxic.” He suggested the backlash pointed to a broader problem in his party, in which people “want to cancel someone who’s been with you on almost every critical issue at every critical juncture for decades.”
At the same time, Newsom defended the 2024 law he signed that says California school districts can’t require teachers to notify parents if their children change their gender identity in the classroom. Last week, the Trump administration launched an investigation into the state law, saying it may violate federal law.
- “The [previous] law was, you would be fired … if a teacher did not report or snitch on a kid talking about their gender identity,” Newsom said. “I just think that was wrong. I just think teachers should teach. I don’t think they should be required to turn in kids.”
In Congress
In Congress, Democrats have already faced a test with a GOP-led bill in January to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports in elementary school through college. Ultimately, two Democrats defected to help Republicans pass the measure, and a third Democrat voted present.
Hack told us Clark’s role in holding the party line against the bill was one reason their group was “so excited” to invite her to the rally. Hack said Clark “personally whipped members” against the bill “and made sure we only lost a few Democrats on a vote that could’ve really gone the other way.”
- “The Republican strategy is to divide and distract Americans — to blame our LGBT+ neighbors for the challenges we face while they simultaneously pull the rug out from under working families,” Clark said in a statement to us. She added that she was “proud to stand in solidarity with trans Americans.”
Rep. Robin Kelly (Illinois), one of the Democrats set to attend the rally, acknowledged to us that some of her Democratic colleagues’ views may differ from hers. She said that while some might think restricting transgender athletes is a fairness issue, she won’t weigh in on their opinions.
Kelly did, however, share her thoughts on her Republican colleagues’ misgendering of McBride, who she said has handled it “with so much class.” Kelly said their behavior was “disrespectful” and called the actions the administration has taken on trans issues “evil.”
- “It’s better to try to inform, to try to educate in a non-confronting way to make sure that people really understand what it’s all about,” Kelly said. “Hopefully, hearing stories and how people get unfairly picked on, bullied, misinformation, misconceptions, maybe that’ll help.”
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