Former US president Barack Obama has shared his advice for changing hearts and mind on trans issues.
The 44th US president, who in July shared that one of his “role models” growing up was his gay college professor who showed him “empathy and kindness” when he made mistakes, has opened up about how he approached talking about trans issues as a politician.
Speaking on the “WTF Podcast” with host Marc Maron, Obama admitted that his “old-fashioned” values helped to shape his approach to trans debates.
The former president shared that he tried his best to lead with empathy and kindness rather than confrontation.
He said: “If I talked about trans issues, I wasn’t talking down to people and saying, ‘oh, you’re a bigot’. I’d say, ‘you know what? It’s tough being a teenager. Let’s treat all kids decently. Why would we want to see kids bullied or shamed? What if it was our kid?’”
“Those values are important,” Obama added.
@pinknews Former U.S. president Barack Obama has opened up about how he approached talking about trans issues as a politician. Speaking on the ‘WTF Podcast’ with host Marc Maron, Obama admitted he had “old-fashioned values” that shaped his approach, saying he tried to lead with empathy and kindness rather than confrontation. He said: “If I talked about trans issues, I wasn’t talking down to people and saying, ‘Oh, you’re a bigot.’ I’d say, ‘You know what? It’s tough enough being a teenager. Let’s treat all kids decently. Why would we want to see kids bullied or shamed? What if it was our kid?’” He added that “those values are important”. #BarackObama #TrumpAdministration #Transrights #Transcommunity #lgbtqia ♬ The Champion – Lux-Inspira
US president Donald Trump succeeded in securing his second term partly due to building his 2024 presidential campaign on an anti-LGBTQ+ – mostly anti-trans – platform.
Since returning to the White House for a second term he had invoked a raft of anti-trans executive orders and rhetoric.
Included in his anti-trans rhetoric this month, Trump mocked trans people and their rights while meeting with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, despite Carney having a non-binary child.
Hitting out at the Democrats, whom he claimed only have “woke cr*p” policies, Trump said of the Republicans: “We have strong borders,” Trump stated. “We have no men in women’s sports. We’re not going to take your child away and change the sex of your child.”
In January, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) warned that president Donald Trump’s “obsession” with implementing anti-trans executive orders will “come at a cost for every American”.
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