(OPINION) California Governor Gavin Newsom, long regarded as a progressive champion of LGBTQ+ rights, has ignited a firestorm of controversy within his own party after condemning the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

The remarks, made during the debut episode of his new podcast This is Gavin Newsom alongside conservative activist Charlie Kirk, mark a significant departure from the Democratic Party’s prevailing stance and have drawn sharp rebukes from liberals and LGBTQ+ advocates across the state.

Newsom’s comments came during a wide-ranging, 71-minute conversation with Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent MAGA figure known for his opposition to transgender rights.

According to The Washington Post, Kirk pressed Newsom on the issue, citing a recent case of a transgender high school athlete winning a triple jump event in California.

“Would you say no to men in female sports?” Kirk asked. Newsom responded, “I think it’s an issue of fairness, I completely agree with you on that.

It is an issue of fairness — it’s deeply unfair.”

He further acknowledged the political toll, noting that Democrats were getting “crushed” on the issue, a point echoed by USA Today, which highlighted his reference to effective Trump campaign ads targeting Vice President Kamala Harris with the slogan “Kamala is for they/them.”

The backlash was swift and fierce. Newsweek reported that Newsom’s stance “puts him at odds with some members of his own party,” particularly as he is seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender.

California State Senator Scott Wiener, a member of the state’s Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, labeled Kirk a “vile bigot” and called Newsom’s alignment with him “profoundly disturbing,” as noted by Yahoo News.

Similarly, The Guardian quoted TransLatin@ Coalition president Bamby Salcedo, who expressed devastation over Newsom’s failure to challenge Kirk’s framing of transgender women as men, accusing him of “throwing trans people under the bus.”

LGBTQ+ advocacy groups also condemned the governor.

The Advocate reported that Equality California and the Human Rights Campaign slammed Newsom’s remarks as a “betrayal of the transgender community,” especially given his history of progressive leadership, such as signing laws to protect transgender youth and making California a sanctuary for gender-affirming care.

Pink News highlighted the contrast with his past actions, noting that Newsom had previously criticized drag bans and called out Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for “demeaning” the LGBTQ+ community.

Newsom’s pivot has sparked speculation about his political motivations.

The Times of India suggested that his remarks reflect a strategic shift as he eyes a national stage, acknowledging that “Democrats were getting crushed” on cultural issues like transgender rights.

The Hollywood Reporter pointed to a 2023 Gallup poll showing Democrats divided on transgender athletes, with Newsom potentially calibrating his position to appeal to a broader electorate.

However, ABC7 San Francisco quoted CSUN sophomore Madeline Burton, who viewed it cynically: “I think that politicians are going to do what’s best for them. I think that him siding with Charlie Kirk is the best for him in his mind.”

Not all reactions were negative. Fox News reported that some California families and schools affected by transgender athlete policies welcomed Newsom’s admission of unfairness, though they criticized his past support for inclusive rules.

Cynthia Slavin, a mother involved in a lawsuit against Riverside Unified School District, told the outlet she was “thankful” Newsom recognized the issue but felt he was still “marginalizing” female athletes.

Newsom attempted to soften his stance during the podcast, per KCRA, saying, “There’s also a humility and a grace that these poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression,” suggesting a nuanced view.

Yet, as Outsports argued, his refusal to directly confront Kirk’s “unapologetic bigotry” lent legitimacy to anti-trans rhetoric, undermining his prior advocacy.

As CBS Sacramento noted, the fallout has left Sacramento in an uproar, with Democrats nationwide reevaluating their approach to a divisive issue.

Whether Newsom’s comments signal a genuine shift or a calculated political maneuver remains unclear, but one thing is certain: his break from California liberals has opened a rift that could shape his—and his party’s—future.