California Gubernatorial Candidate Steyer Backs Trans Athletes Over Girls Safety

What was said

"I'm totally in favor of trans athletes in high school. When you understand the vulnerability, the stress, the danger of being a trans kid, and you understand that almost half of them try to commit suicide, and then you think we're going to punish those kids, we're going to cut them off from team sports, we're going to cut them off from participating in the community, there are more important things than whether you start on your high school basketball team."

California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer defended allowing biological males to compete in girls' sports, citing suicide statistics that have been debunked by long-term studies. The statement came as California implemented policies allowing boys who identify as girls to stand on podiums with actual female athletes. A 2011 Swedish study found mortality rates were actually higher for those who had transition procedures, contradicting claims that denying access increases suicide risk.