LGBTQ Activists Rally at Newsom’s Home, Demand Stronger Trans Rights Commitment

More than 100 LGBTQ+ rights activists and community members marched in Kentfield, the Marin County community where Gov. Gavin Newsom recently purchased a new home, on Monday as part of International Transgender Day of Visibility, which highlights discrimination faced by trans people worldwide.

Advocates are calling on state leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the transgender community following recent attacks from the Trump administration and Newsom. The governor split with fellow Democrats earlier this month, describing the party’s progressive politics as “toxic” and the participation of transgender athletes in female sports “deeply unfair.”

Participants held signs that read “Let Trans Kids Play” and “Do Better Newsom,” a reference to Newsom’s comments about the trans community on his new podcast. In a friendly interview with conservative talk show host Charlie Kirk in early March, Newsom appeared to agree with Kirk regarding the fairness of transgender athletes participating in women’s sports.

The conversation frustrated state Democrats and LGBTQ advocacy groups who saw Newsom’s failure to push back as an acquiescence to conservative attacks on trans youth and athletes.

Newsom “has been a huge ally and advocate for so many years,” said Sister Shalita Corndog, an activist with the nonprofit Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, San Francisco’s famed drag troupe. “We are all just shocked and confused and devastated about what happened in his interview… wondering why he’s not more explicitly in favor of and supportive of people like us.”

In February, President Donald Trump passed an executive order seeking to bar transgender athletes from women’s athletics. Several conservative states, including Florida and Texas, already prohibit trans students from participating in teams that align with their gender identity, and the NCAA changed its participation policy to align with Trump’s directives shortly after it was passed.

“At a time when we are seeing legislators attempt to undermine everything from marriage equality to the existence of trans people to LGBTQ+ rights in the workplace, we need our allies to step up and speak out,” the Human Rights Campaign said in a statement. “This is not a moment to sit politely in the face of authoritarian bullies or throw people under the bus for political posturing.”

Janna Barkin, an author and trans rights advocate who participated in Monday’s march, said Newsom has been at the forefront of the LGBTQ movement in California for decades, making his recent about-face even more disheartening.

“We want our local representatives, our California representatives, to stand strong and make public statements, press conferences and letters to constituents stating that they’re unwavering in their commitment to the trans community and transgender rights,” Barkin said.

In California, advocacy groups have worked with legislators to push for bills reaffirming the state’s support for the trans community, said Amy Wrena, an organizer with nonprofit Rainbow Families Action Group. Representatives such as state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) have introduced bills that would defend transgender workers from discrimination and protect trans access to health care, for example.

“We plan to celebrate and to show that trans people are here,” Barkin told KQED. “They’re beautiful parts of our community and we’re here to be joyful and celebratory and visible.”

The march to Newsom’s home ended in a dance party as Lady Gaga’s “Born this Way” and Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” played. The demonstration ended peacefully after law enforcement arrived.

KQED’s Danielle Venton contributed to this report.