California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose sweeping new gun-control initiative will be on the fall ballot, has put himself squarely in the midst of a heated battle with the transgender community. It began with one woman’s opposition to his proposed legislation.
“If Gavin Newsom gets this passed, how will transgender women like me be able to protect ourselves?” inquired the Facebook meme. Newsom’s response? He slammed the NRA and accused them of using the transgender community to fight their battle. “One of the most disgusting things you’ve ever done,” he tweeted.
Newsom’s bogus claims of exploitation quickly led to an angry backlash from the LGBT community. Nicki Stallard, the woman in the meme, says her group is not affiliated with the NRA, nor do they appreciate Newsom’s suggestions that transgender people don’t use guns. “He is promoting victim disarmament, and his proposals will get innocent victims killed,” Stallard said.