Despite languishing seventh in the race with polling numbers beneath two points, Christie has unveiled an unconventional stance for a Republican candidate, advocating for child gender transition surgeries.
On a recent Sunday edition of CNN's "State of the Nation," Christie articulated his stance to host Jake Tapper. He stated, "The government should ever be stepping into the place of the parents in helping to move their children through a process where those children are confused or concerned about their gender."
June 20, 2023
Tapper incited this response by noting Christie's history of supporting transgender rights. Despite backlash from groups like the NJ Family Policy Council, Christie 2017 ratified Democrat legislation (S-3067/A-465), which prohibited public school districts from obligating transgender students to use facilities that align with their biological sex. The legislation necessitated that schools in the state allow students to dress according to their "gender identity," keep parents uninformed about a student's "transgender or transition status," and permit students to participate in gym sports with members of the opposite sex.
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LGBT lobby group Garden State Equality lauded Christie's efforts, stating, "Governor Christie took a stand for LGBT youth in New Jersey by signing this important legislation, and he deserves our thanks," as reported by the Gothamist. The head of Garden State Equality extended an invitation via Twitter for Christie to "come sit at the gay beach."
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Responding to Tapper's point about other Republican candidates diverging from his approach, Christie argued, "The fact is that folks who are under the age of 18 should have parental support and guidance and love as they make all of the key decisions of their life, and this should not be one that is excluded by the government in any way."
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While Christie currently supports therapies aimed at altering a patient's sex organs, he had previously prohibited therapies intended to change sexual preferences. During the 2015 ban, he stated, "On issues of medical treatment for children, we must look to experts in the field to determine the relative risks and rewards," as reported by Fox News Digital.
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However, Christie's standpoint diverges starkly from other announced Republican presidential candidates. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley contended in May, "You shouldn't allow a child to have gender-changing procedure until the age of 18 when they are an adult and they can make that decision. But we shouldn't have taxpayer dollars going to that," as reported by WCIV-TV.
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Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida not only critiqued the gender transitioning of minors but also outlawed the practice in his state. Meanwhile, Vivek Ramaswamy proposed a nationwide ban on "gender-affirming care for minors," asserting that it's "actually the compassionate thing to do for children." He noted, "Affirming their confusion is ... cruelty. For most of our history, we have viewed that as a mental health disorder. That's not a stigma. That's actually the first sign to asking how we, as adults and leaders, help our children by protecting them."
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Former Vice President Mike Pence voiced his support for congressional efforts to shield children from "this radical gender ideology" and to prohibit chemical or surgical transition treatment for individuals under 18.
President Trump, leading the race by approximately 50 points ahead of Christie, promised in a video on Truth Social to end the "madness" if re-elected. His measures include banning sex-change surgeries on minors, recognizing only two genders under federal law, and prohibiting men from participating in women's sports.
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In a tweet Sunday, Christie, who is currently trailing Trump in the polls, wrote, "Just hit 15k donors. Don't worry, Donny, I'm coming." The unconventional stance Christie has adopted in supporting child gender transition surgeries thus sets him apart in a race where other Republican contenders have overwhelmingly voiced opposition to such practices.
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It's yet to be seen whether Christie's endorsement of child gender transition surgeries will gain traction within the Republican base, mainly when most candidates in the running have adopted a markedly contrasting position on the matter.
Christie's support for such surgeries aligns with his previous endorsement of transgender rights. His 2017 ratification of legislation barring public school districts from requiring transgender students to use bathrooms matching their biological sex was lauded by the LGBT community. This stance on child gender transition surgeries may be seen as continuing that commitment.
Conversely, fellow Republicans like Haley, DeSantis, Ramaswamy, Pence, and Trump have taken firm positions against these practices. From Haley's argument against taxpayer dollars funding gender transition procedures for minors to DeSantis' outright ban on the process in Florida, the spectrum of opposition within the party is broad.
Ramaswamy's proposal for a nationwide ban on "gender-affirming care for minors" takes a hardline approach, as does Pence's endorsement of congressional protection against "radical gender ideology" for those under 18.
Former President Trump, who remains a dominant figure in the Republican Party, promises to reinstate traditional definitions of gender, ban sex-change surgeries on minors, and prevent men from participating in women's sports.
With this stark divide, the Republican primary will provide a key platform for debate about child gender transition surgeries and, more broadly, the intersection of gender, childhood, and parental rights. Christie's stance will ignite intense discussion and redefine the Republican party's stance.
As the race unfolds, Christie's divergence from his peers on this contentious matter might distinguish him among sure voters. But it remains to be seen whether this gamble will pay off in a field where most candidates hold differing views. His recent tweet, "Just hit 15k donors. Don't worry, Donny, I'm coming," signals his determination to challenge his party's current front-runner. But whether his distinctive stance on child gender transition surgeries will propel him forward or hinder his progress remains an open question.
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