Bob the Drag Queen drags California governor Gavin Newsom over trans rights retreat
Bob the Drag Queen and Gavin Newsom (Getty)
Bob the Drag Queen and Gavin Newsom (Getty)
Bob the Drag Queen has added his voice to those speaking out against California governor Gavin Newsom over his comments about the trans community.
Newsom’s pivot away from supporting the trans community began in earnest after President Trump won the 2024 election. Far from being the only Democrat to do so, Newsom has appeared on right-wing podcasts in the ‘manosphere’, such as that Charlie Kirk, the anti-LGBTQ+ founder of conservative group Turning Point USA. During his appearance, he branded trans inclusion in sports “deeply unfair”.
Following the news that the Trump administration had shutdown the LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Service hotline – a hotline set up in conjunction with The Trevor Project as part of the wider national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Bob the Drag Queen joined MSNBC’s The Weekend: Primetime with Ayman Mohyeldin and Antonia Hylton to discuss matters.
“I’m really afraid of what the outcome will be,” the RuPaul’s Drag Race winner began in reaction to the hotline’s closure. “I mean, obviously, mental health is really important, especially when it comes to mental health surrounding suicidal ideology and how hard it can be to get through something like that. Obviously, when you’re in that state of mind, you’re going to end up needing some help. And it feels really upsetting that that will not be provided to people who need it now.”
The Drag Race season eight winner was then asked about Newsom. Bob said, “Can I just say, speaking to Charlie Kirk is never a good idea. No one should be speaking to Charlie Kirk. I don’t know if we still do that kind of social isolation ‘we’ve all just agreed that this is one person we will not be speaking to,’ but I do believe Charlie Kirk is that person.”
He went on to say, “I will say this: No one who actually knows a trans person would ever go around saying and doing these things.” Bob clarified he meant people who had trans parents, siblings, friends etc. “And when you realise that everyone’s trying to live their life. Trying to go to the bathroom, trying to have jobs, take care of their families.”
Bob also explained that people need to be reminded that “transgender is not a dirty word,” and that all it is an adjective.
He is the latest person to speak out against Newsom, who has also been criticised by the comedian Paul F Tompkins as well as the California LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus. Tony Hoang, the executive director of Equality California, said was “disappointed and angered” by Newsom’s recent comments.
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