California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is now saying that his state should consider rolling back its law allowing trans students to participate in school sports as their gender, while he argues that he isnt transphobic because he has signed many pro-trans rights bills and also has a trans godson.I disagree with all the vitriol, but I agree on the issue of fairness in that respect, that it is unfair in these circumstances, and I havent been able to reconcile it, he told KQED this past Friday about the issue of trans student-athletes. Related Gov. Gavin Newsom signs pro-LGBTQ+ bills, but vetos critical trans medication bill Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Californias previous governor, Jerry Brown, signed a law in 2013 that allows trans kids to participate in school sports as their gender. This law barely drew attention from the right for years the current president didnt try to get schools to defy it during his first term, as hes doing now but ever since Republicans made trans kids rights part of their national strategy in 2021, the law has faced criticism.In March of this year, Newsom told late rightwing podcaster Charlie Kirk that its deeply unfair that trans girls get to participate in school sports. In July, he repeated the sentiment on another podcast, saying that he has heard complaints about trans girls participating in school sports from good human beings, not just conservatives. Because you oppose sports does not make you a bigot, doesnt make you homophobic, Newsom said at the time. And my party needs to stop saying that.Theres some nuance here, Newsom said last Friday on KQED when asked about his past statements. I dont roll people under the bus, quite the contrary. But when it comes to sports, thats impacting other peoples rights.He claimed that there are many people who have a similar point of view, but dont say it publicly. He was asked about his states law allowing trans kids to play school sports as their gender, a law that has been key to Californias stance against the administrations attempts to force states to ban trans kids from school sports. He agreed that it should be changed, but didnt say how.I think we have to figure this out, he said. Its a difficult- This is not the issue. And what I hate about the other side, theyre making a- Theyre coloring this in as its a major issue.Newsom also argued that hes not transphobic. Theres not one person youve had on-air who has a better record on trans rights than this person youre talking to, period full stop, he said. I have signed more bills protecting trans folks than anyone youve ever had on this air. I have appointed more people to positions of power and influence as it relates to trans than any other major elected official, from judicial appointments to significant appointments. I just made a decision in terms of our retirement system just a few weeks ago. Its a point of pride that Ive done that.He claimed that, as mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011, he was attacking [major LGBTQ+ rights organization] HRC because they werent including trans rights back in 2004, 5, 6. Its unclear what he was referring to there. HRC famously supported a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in Congress that didnt include protections for gender identity in 2007, but he didnt explain how or when he criticized them for that. But, he said, sports are different from other trans rights issues. Thats impacting other peoples rights.And I say this with a trans godson, he continued. I have only one godson, whos trans. And so with love and grace in my heart and in that exact exchange with Charlie [Kirk], I said, these people just wanna survive.I disagree with all the vitriol, but I agree on the issue of fairness in that respect, that it is unfair in these circumstances, and I havent been able to reconcile it.The relevant exchange starts at about 18:30. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.