State lawmakers disagree with Newsom’s take on transgender athletes

California Democrats on Thursday distanced themselves from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent comments on transgender athletes, saying they are committed to protecting equality even as their state’s leader sides with a prominent right-wing figure on inclusion in sports. Newsom said on his new podcast that he “completely agrees” with guest Charlie Kirk that transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete against cisgender women and girls as a matter of “fairness.” California Rep. Mark Takano, chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, said in response that trans people must be protected. “Over the past two months, the Trump Administration has been weaponizing…