Democratic California governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday bemoaned the “rights regression,” perpetrated by Republicans, facing drag shows and people who identify as LGBT.
“I don’t think people fully understand the rights regression…on just the assault on the African American community, the assault on the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Trans community,” Newsom said in an interview with independent journalist Ed Krassenstein. “The number one issue of the day seems to be getting rid of the word ‘Latinx’ in Arkansas and number two getting rid of drag shows. It’s a serious moment.”
Newsom failed to specify whether the drag shows he seeks to protect from restrictions would be exclusive to adults or also open to children. There have been many documented cases in which drag performers dressed in lewd clothing have engaged in inappropriate sexual dancing around kids, sparking backlash in GOP-controlled states.
“Everything I have taken for granted in my life, in the last half century, in terms of rights expansion- and I didn’t even bring up abortion and contraception- all of that is in peril at this moment,” Newsom added. “And if I care about my kids, I sure as hell better care about what’s going on in Alabama.”
Newsom has taken radical steps to transform California into a so-called safe haven for abortion and youth gender transition tourism. In March, the governor cryptically declared that California would boycott Walgreens after the company decided not to distribute abortion pills in 20 GOP-dominated states, many of which have limited the procedure.
Last week, a federal judge in Texas suspended the FDA’s approval of one of the drugs involved in a chemical abortion regimen on the grounds that the agency failed to conduct a thorough assessment of its safety.
In response, Newsom announced Tuesday that California will keep an emergency supply of 2 million misoprostol abortion pills.
“We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services,” Newsom’s office told MSNBC.
On Monday, the Department of Justice challenged the court’s ruling on both standing and its merits, asking a federal appeals court to order mifepristone to remain on the market pending further litigation.