Billionaire Tom Steyer supports trans athletes in high school sports debate

California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer defended transgender athletes competing in high school sports in a podcast broadcast Sunday, saying excluding transgender youth from athletics could worsen the emotional and psychological struggles many already face.

“I absolutely love trans athletes in high school,” Steyer told podcast host Jennifer Welch.

“When you understand the risk, the stress, the risk of being a trans kid, and you understand about half of them are trying to kill themselves, and you think, ‘We’re going to punish those kids, we’re going to cut them out of the team game.’ It’s like, no we’re not.”

Steyer made similar comments when he spoke to CBS in Los Angeles but also called out the opposition for furthering a “right-wing effort” to smear transgender people.

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“To be clear, this is not a major disease,” he said. “This is an attempt by the right wing to victimize and victimize people who are already vulnerable and desperate, and my heart goes out to people who are so sad, so rejected, and so unwelcome that part of them would try to kill themselves.”

Steyer is among a tight group of Democrats fighting to retain control of the party when Gov. Gavin Newsom.

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Democratic candidates Antonio Villaraigosa, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra and Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco participated in a California gubernatorial debate at the East Los Angeles College Auditorium in Monterey Park, Calif., on May 5, ahead of the June 2 primary election. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)

Former US Attorney Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, former California State Legislature Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, former California State Administrator Betty Yee and California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond complete the list.

The remaining Democratic candidates also agreed with part of Steyer’s position, with Porter arguing that youth sports are meant to build character and teamwork rather than simply deciding who is the best.

Becerra, when pressed on an existing state law that allows students to participate in activities based on gender identity, urged officials to continue to protect certain classes according to the law.

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The remaining Democratic Alliance candidates also agreed with part of Steyer’s position on trans youth athletes. (OutKick/Fox News Digital)

Others gave subtle answers.

Mahan initially criticized those who use the issue as a “political stick” to “score political points,” but noted that he can see bias when a natural man plays football against his young daughter.

“That would be a conversation we would have, and I think it’s unfair,” he said.

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“But I also think we’re allowing ourselves to use that as a litmus test that’s really about demonizing, dividing people, scoring political points, and I’m not just going to be a governor who allows vulnerable people to be a punching bag,” he said.

Villaraigosa dismissed the debate as a “non-issue,” but said he was against discrimination while expressing his belief that natural men who have reached puberty should not compete in women’s sports.

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Yee emphasized the need to identify ways to promote fairness while ensuring everyone is included, while Thurmond took a more specific approach to supporting transgender athletes.

Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, on the other hand, support repealing the existing law that allows the practice.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).