Abandoning trans people ‘a mistake’ for Democrats, says Kamala Harris’ former running mate Tim Walz
Tim Walz has defended trans rights. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Tim Walz has defended trans rights. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Kamala Harris’ former running mate, Tim Walz, has said that it’s “a mistake” for Democrats to abandon trans rights.
The Minnesota Gov. reflected on the issue in an interview with The Independent, after Donald Trump’s presidential campaign launched a culture war on trans people, which has continued through to his presidency.
“It’s a mistake,” he said. “And here’s the thing: we need to tell people your cost of eggs, your health care being denied, your homeowner’s insurance, your lack of getting warning on tornadoes coming has nothing to do with someone’s gender.”
Walz continued: “I think we have to figure out how to not get sucked in and allow that to be the focal point only, and that we can multitask, and we can hold several things simultaneously.
“We can protect LGBTQ rights and basic human rights at the same time, we can make sure that we hold drug companies accountable for high prices.”
However, since Trump’s win, some Democrats have been accused of “selling out” trans people. In January, two Democrats voted with Republicans to ban trans women and girls from competing in women’s sports.
Trump’s Make America Great Again Inc advert hit out at “crazy liberal” Harris for supporting “they/them”. “President Trump is for you,” the advert heard. Meanwhile, Harris responded to the advert by pointing out that Trump’s previous administration backed gender-affirming care for trans inmates.
Since taking office for his second, non-consecutive term, Trump has enacted a series of anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders, many of which target the trans community.
Among the orders, Trump declared the official policy of the United States is that there are “only two sexes”, banned trans people from serving in the military and restricted gender-affirming healthcare for trans people under the age 19, as well as banning trans athletes from women’s sports (which was later blocked in the US senate).
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