Abandoning trans people 'a mistake' for Democrats, says Tim Walz

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Tuesday 20 May 2025 12:25 BST


Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says Democrats should not abandon defending the rights of transgender people as they figure out how to win again. The former Democratic nominee for vice president spoke to The Independent about the issue, which became a major weapon in Donald Trump’s campaign ads against former Vice President Kamala Harris.

“It's a mistake,” he insisted. “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.”

In recent months, some Democrats have hinted that Democrats should avoid talking about transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. Gov. Gavin Newsom of California told Turning Point USA head Charlie Kirk on his podcast that trans participation in women’s sports was “unfair.”

“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,” he said. “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.”

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tim-walz-trans-rights-democrats-kamala-harris-b2754028.html

[Lovie777]

1. We are not....................

[jaymac]

2. let's look

at who is defining democratic values and make sure they get the attention they deserve.......

[ananda]

3. So, really, what isn't a mistake for Dems?

The Republicans took over the courts and
the entire media and messaging system,
so as far as I can tell, Dems are being gamed
into being wrong about everything.

In my world: if you go left you'll be right,
if you go right, you'll be wrong.

[yliza]

6. I like the way you put that

In my world: if you go left you'll be right,
if you go right, you'll be wrong.

That says it all for me.

I’m so tired of democrats bashing the progressive wing of the party. The progressive wing is where I live. I also believe it’s the future, since the capitalist system is, in my opinion, inherently unfair, environmentally unsound, and unsustainable long term.

When they bash progressives, they’re essentially bashing me and everything I believe in.

[OldBaldy1701E]

30. You got that right!

Hear hear!

[BurnDoubt]

33. Yep.

[BurnDoubt]

34. If we sub-divide human dignity we will become them. Every person matters. That's what we should be about.

[BootOutTheGoons]

37. For people to give us human dignity they'd have to decide we're human

Honestly and sadly many people, including here, have made it clear they don't think we're human

[soldierant]

7. And if driving, if you waht

to go forward, use D. If you want to go backward, use R.

[ananda]

9. *Like*

[sagetea]

5. Touchy, touchy subject.

Instead of separate teams one for boys, one for girls, why not create teams that include everyone? And if they are good enough, then they SHOULD be able to play. Why destroy instead of create?


sage

[Polybius]

12. Well, some sports are already all inclusive, such as MLB and NHL

The problem is, only one woman has ever made the team, and was Manon Rhéaume in a preseason exhibition game with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992. Also, some sports can't be all inclusive. Boxing or UFC would be a disaster. There is no Chun Li (Street Fighter II) beating the best of the best in the real world.

[sagetea]

20. I agree

However, I did box in a match! There was only one girl, so my dad asked if I would be willing to box her, I did. That was with the Jr. Golden Gloves in 1978.

Actually, I was thinking of children/elementary and young adults.


sage

[hunter]

8. Why are you playing the Republican's game?

Hint: It's not about sports.

[Tumbulu]

10. Nobody who is older, that I know, is understanding one iota

why anyone on the left is all focused on this. And why the brouhaha when Governor Newsom spoke up about it. Who has a genuine and long history of supporting rights.

But it seems to be a HUGE HUGE thing among the youth. Which various young people have made efforts to explain to me. But, so far, being an elder, I just do not understand. But the young people don’t vote enough, and look at the young male vote? Who seem to be bunch of misogynist T supporters, so who cares about pandering to those brats anyway?

First of all, I don’t think anyone should compete in sports EXCEPT FOR FUN!!!! And I am indeed shouting.

I do not support all this glorification of team sports of any kind in grammar, middle or high school, except for fun. Not for competition and or money and or scholarships, etc etc etc.

So, I am clearly out of step with the entire mainstream on this.

But, if it is going to be all monetized after about a century of effort on behalf of women sports figures and crazy for sports families and educators to have separate leagues for girls and women, I believe that those people who did this work should be the ones to decide. And why is this such an issue? Are there maybe 15 trans athletes all together in the country?

I just feel that since most of the people who actually vote are older, that the right wing nuts have commandeered middle of the aisle people to vote on their side because this whole preoccupation for fighting to include these few people in girls and women’s teams - which most elders find utterly preposterous.

Ok, rant over.

[Keepthesoulalive]

26. The republicans have made it a thing

And the assholes who follow them get all worked up about it. Newsome should not have taken the bait, he should have stayed out of it. As Tim said we need to mind our own business and leave people alone.

[AntiFascist]

39. It's really the Christian Evangelist, Project 2025 people who are making a big deal out of this...

and seeing this debate being carried out on the local news at a high school in my area, it's clear that they have a lot of persuasion, even in very blue districts.

It's sad that Governor Newsome, who was known for his support of gay marriage, feels that he must compromise.

[hunter]

14. I don't think people over six feet tall should be allowed to play basketball.

Freaks...

[Bayard]

13. Equestrian sports have women competing against men

And they are some of the best in the sports. Just sayin'.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. But the issue of trans rights is NOT about "sports" nor "bathrooms" for that matter

It's about the right to identify oneself as one chooses and not have an identification imposed on you due to someone with an agenda.

It's truly sad for anyone to be gullible enough to accept the idiotic deflection of "But sports!!!111!!!!!!" to take away someone's rights.

When I was 8 years old and in 4th grade and wanted to play the flute in the school orchestra (I had already played recorder in earlier grades), I was told by a fucking racist orchestra director that my "lips were too big" but I was welcome to play the violin (which I eventually did).

This was a bigot who decided to "define" who and what I was and then determine what I would or would not be permitted to do based on nonsense. And he had the power to impose AND enforce that decision.

When I transferred to another school, I had that director's son as an orchestra director and he was by no means his father, but the damage was done.

[LearnedHand]

21. We do not have to "face it" because it's a distraction technique, a NON-issue

We refuse to accept the premise, the framework. If we enter this discussion, we’ve already lost. Fuck them for making this the issue, and fuck Newsom for taking the bait.

[LearnedHand]

22. Walz is exactly right

Dems were wrong to take the bait on this.

[HereForTheParty]

24. Did Walz define "abandoning" trans people?

67% of Democrats say trans women should not be in women’s sports.

[LearnedHand]

25. Do not buy into this shit argument

This was never about sports or trans people. It was ALWAYS about throwing red meat to the haters, dividing the electorate, and changing the fucking conversation away from their crimes and abuses.

[Oneironaut]

27. Here's what he probably means:

1 - Calling trans women “Men.” Trans women are women. Calling us “men” gives a green light to the bigots that don’t want trans people to exist.
2 - Platforming people like Charlie Kirk and agreeing with them on trans issues. Charlie Kirk doesn’t believe anything.
3 - Blaming trans people for the election loss, rather than strategic mistakes the Democrats made. This is cowardly and pathetic.
4 - Piling on and using right wing talking points against trans people to try and score points with Conservatives. The message trans people get from this is, “you are dragging us down, and, we will abandon you when it’s convenient. “

I think a debate could happen about trans women in sports, but, it’s generally pointless, given how bad faith people are. Does anyone really think people like Charlie Kirk care about school sports? Agreeing with them to score political points is stupid.

[LearnedHand]

28. The other problem with the sports thing

besides all the above threads, is freaking REALLY? Is winning the only thing that matters in sports? Especially school sports. In zero ways is this worthy of all the oxygen it sucks out of the real conversation. I vote for NO ONE having a say about how trans people live their lives except the people themselves. And I vote for NOT EVER entering into this abortion of a "topic." Seriously. Elected Democrats need to attend Reframing 101. Or maybe even Remedial Reframing.

[OldBaldy1701E]

31. "Is winning the only thing that matters in sports?"

Where have you been?

In this country, winning is the ONLY thing. If you don't win, you might as well jump off the nearest cliff. You are less than human if you don't dominate and win at everything you ever attempt.

At least, that is what I have been taught during my 60+ years in this capitalistic train wreck.

[LearnedHand]

32. Well true dat

But I'm trying to encourage people to think past knee jerk reactions to a topic designed to elicit knee jerk reactions. If we argue from the Repuke framework, we lose EVERY SINGLE TIME.

[OldBaldy1701E]

35. Indeed. (n/t)

[BootOutTheGoons]

36. This post attracted the usual nonsense of course

The attacks on trans rights, the slurs, the hate, the cries about protecting girls sprots... From the usual suspects of course

I'm done buying it. In late March a male basketball coach was caught on camera grabbing a teen girl by her ponytail. The thread about it here got 6 replies... 3 from the OP replying to others

"Protecting real girls!" "But sprots!" So they have nothing to say when an adult male physically assaults a teenager?

They also seem to have nothing to say about MAGATs attacking female athletes. Or the WNBA players getting paid far too little. Or other cases of female athletes being abused by male coaches or officials

But the second the word "trans" enters the picture here we fucking go... Dozens or even hundreds of replies. The same people having a fucking blast putting trans people into a circular firing squad. The lies and gleefully going on like we're not even in the room and they couldn't care less about our feelings

Or maybe they know it hurts us and they enjoy it

I'm not fucking stupid. When people only seem to speak up on women's issues when it involves trans women, it's not a case of caring about women...

It's just because they hate people like me

And I know many of you do. Many people here hate me as much as MAGA does. And I'm tired of it and tired of the hurt

I'm tired of the attacks and lies and false accusations. I'm tired of being talked down on. I'm tired of being put through hell by the right and then getting more of it here

I'm tired of seeing more respect and kindness here for Dan Fucking Crenshaw than for trans women

I'm also convinced at this point everyone hates me and wished I were gone. Well, considering the pain never stops and I'm likely about to lose everything and I'm hated by everyone maybe it's time. Make it to see 50 (which isn't far away) and then just go away

After all, better dead than trans

[Oneironaut]

38. You deserve to be happy and live freely. And also, you matter.

I agree with you that transphobia is a rampant problem here. The admins helped a little (the bar was extremely low, with a few posters posting transphobic right-wing / TERF editorials every day lol), but, this place has a long place to go. Sadly, it’s better than most of the internet, even.

I hope you continue to live, but, I understand why you don’t want to. I won’t say things aren’t absolutely horrible right now, because they are, but, the world is better with you in it.