Calling Himself ‘A Traditionalist,’ Chris Christie Stakes Out Anti-trans Position
Former governor touts veto of ability to change gender on birth certificates in NJ
If you thought that the Republican Party might offer a presidential candidate who doesn't take an anti-transgender stance, Chris Christie will disappoint you.
Christie, who recently jumped into the contest for the Republican presidential nomination in an attempt to derail Donald Trump, came out against the most basic notions of transgender existence.
The former New Jersey governor made those comments in a televised interview with Piers Morgan.
Christie is one of about a dozen hopefuls looking to somehow snatch away the 2024 nomination from Trump, who has been indicted criminally twice and faces additional potential charges, as well.
Despite breaking with the party's frontrunners on other issues, Christie is falling in line with what has become widespread Republican anti-trans orthodoxy.
Republicans, at both the state and federal levels, have been working to pass a wave of anti-trans laws to limit the rights and lives of transgender Americans, whether impeding their ability to go to the restroom that matches their gender identity, access medically approved gender-affirming care, and more.
“Look, I have always looked at this traditionally. I am a traditionalist. A woman is someone who is born with that biological gender at birth. I recognize now that there are folks who, you know, feel differently about that. They are free to feel differently about it. I don’t,” Christie said. “So, to me, a woman is someone who is born a biological woman, and that is the definition.”
The former governor, who served eight years at the helm of the Garden State until leaving office in 2018, even touted his willingness to deny transgender Americans the ability to transition legally.
“And I confronted the first edge of this when I was governor because the legislature sent me a bill that would allow people to change their gender on their birth certificate. I vetoed it,” he said.
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