Conservative strategists began looking around for other ways to frame transgender rights as an issue that could be winning for the Republican Party. Republicans were more likely to support a GOP candidate who favored a ban on transgender girls participating in sports than a candidate pushing for a ban on Transgender people using bathroom, according to polling. The idea of conservatives who oppose gay rights framing the issue around children has been going on at least since the 1970s.
With stunning speed, the status of trans youth has become the rallying cry of the Republican Party, from state legislatures to presidential campaigns.
Adam Nagourney, who covers West Coast cultural affairs for The New York Times, explains how that came to be, and why it’s proving such a potent issue.
Guest: Adam Nagourney, a West Coast cultural affairs correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.