Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk is the guest on California Gov. Gavin Newsom's inaugural edition of his "This is Gavin Newsom" podcast. (Gavin Newsom on X)
Kirk further pressed Newsom on whether he would condemn the recent victory of a transgender track athlete with a more than 40-foot jump at Jurupa Valley High School in Southern California.
Newsom - who was ahead of many in his party when, two decades ago, as San Francisco mayor, he defied existing state laws and issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples - didn't directly address the win, but said "it's a fairness issue."
The student, AB Hernandez, won an invitational meet on Feb. 22, booting out a female runner-up who had jumped just over 32 feet in their competition category. Hernandez also took first place in two other events at the meet.
"So that's easy to call out the unfairness of that," Newsom, a Democratic Party torchbearer, said. "There's also a humility and a grace… 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."
"So both things I can hold in my hand," the governor continued. "How can we address this issue with the kind of decency that I think you know is inherent in you, but not always expressed on the issue?"
Gavin Newsom admits to Charlie Kirk that trans women playing in women's sports is "deeply unfair." (Screenshot/This is Gavin Newsom)
Some Golden State leaders from the left and the right were critical of the governor's comments.
The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, in a statement on social media, charged that "sometimes Gavin Newsom goes for the Profile in Courage, sometimes not. We woke up profoundly sickened and frustrated by these remarks. All students deserve the academic and health benefits of sports activity, and until Donald Trump began obsessing about it, playing on a team consistent with one’s gender has not been a problem since the standard was passed in 2013."
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And Will O'Neil, chair of the Orange County Republican Party, took to social media to claim "the difference between "redefining Newsom" and actual Newsom policies is going to get exposed in these podcasts."
"Entertainment is one thing, governing is different," he added.
Jamie Joseph is a U.S. Politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering transgender and culture issues, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, and stateside legislative developments.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/newsom-calls-biological-men-womens-sports-deeply-unfair-podcast-conservative-activist