In a surprising turn, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) agreed with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on the issue of fairness in women’s sports during the debut episode of his podcast, This is Gavin Newsom.
The discussion centered on the highly debated topic of trans-identifying athletes competing in female sports, with Newsom acknowledging that the practice presents serious concerns about fairness, describing it as “deeply unfair.” However, while recognizing the issue, he hesitated to take a strong position in favor of banning the participation of trans-identifying athletes in women’s competitions.
Gavin Newsom, who signed legislation that empowers teachers to hide children's gender-dysphoria from parents, agrees with Charlie Kirk that men shouldn't play in women's sports. pic.twitter.com/INqoN35aV5
— Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) March 6, 2025
Kirk directly challenged Newsom, asking, “Would you say no men in female sports?” to which the governor admitted, “It is an issue of fairness. It is deeply unfair.” According to The Post Millennial, while Newsom agreed with the fundamental concern, he refrained from outright rejecting policies that allow trans-identifying athletes to compete in female categories, citing the complexities of the matter.
When Kirk pushed further, referencing AB Hernandez—a trans-identifying male athlete who dominated a California high school track meet with an eight-foot lead in the triple jump—Newsom again voiced concern over fairness. However, he also stressed the importance of acknowledging the struggles trans-identifying individuals face, including mental health challenges.
“These poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression,” Newsom stated, advocating for treating vulnerable communities with “humility and grace.” As a father of two daughters, he admitted the difficulty of balancing empathy for trans-identifying individuals with the need for fair policies in women’s sports.
Despite recognizing the controversy, Newsom suggested that the issue was being politically exploited. Still, he acknowledged the growing public opposition to trans-identifying males competing in female sports, citing a New York Times poll that found 80% of Americans oppose the practice.
While Newsom has consistently supported trans-identifying policies as governor, his administration has enacted laws advancing gender ideology in California. According to National Review, he signed legislation preventing school districts from mandating parental notification when a child identifies as “trans.”
California’s policies allowing trans-identifying students to access facilities and compete in sports based on their gender identity predate Newsom’s tenure. In 2014, then-Governor Jerry Brown signed a law permitting male athletes who identify as female to compete in women’s sports, setting the stage for current regulations.
Kirk criticized Democrats’ handling of the issue, pointing to the failure of the Protecting Women and Girls in Sports Act in the U.S. Senate after every Democratic senator voted against it.
Newsom admitted the political consequences of the issue, saying, “We’re getting crushed.” He acknowledged the intense division over trans policies and warned that Democrats could face significant backlash if they fail to address public concerns.
The discussion also touched on parental rights and teacher confidentiality. Kirk argued against California’s policy allowing teachers to withhold a student’s trans identity from their parents.
“There should be a penalty measure, whether it be termination or whatever, if a teacher withholds information from a parent,” Kirk asserted.
In response, Newsom defended existing laws, stating they are designed to protect LGBT students, especially those who could face rejection at home. However, he did not commit to altering these policies.
As the conversation wrapped up, both Newsom and Kirk recognized the deep divide in the country regarding trans policies. Newsom suggested that Democrats might need to reconsider their approach to avoid further public discontent on the issue.
