John Oliver railed against the Democratic Party for sidelining trans issues during Kamala Harris’ campaign, contrasting this with the Republican Party’s aggressive spending on anti-trans ads.
On the latest episode of Last Week Tonight, Oliver discussed Harris’ defeat, criticizing self-described progressives who have turned against transgender people and blaming “woke” politics for Donald Trump’s success.
He candidly criticized Harris’ campaign and how it largely ignored transgender rights, while Republicans poured more than $215 million into anti-trans advertising — which amounts to about $134 for every transgender person in the US.
Oliver argued that Democrats should have taken a stronger stance in supporting transgender people, expressing frustration with the Harris campaign’s inability to effectively combat the attacks.
He called the lack of response particularly disheartening, noting that “formulating a response is actually quite simple.”
“Look, I’ll do it for you now,” he said, listing four points.
“There are virtually no trans girls competing in high schools anywhere,” Oliver began.
“Even if there were more, trans children, like all children, vary in athletic ability and there is no evidence that they pose a threat to safety or fairness,” he continued.
“It’s very strange that you’re so focused on this topic.”
Finally, he added, “If you really wanted to address the biggest concern of most girls who play high school sports, you would worry less about this and more about the creepy assistant volleyball coach who sends their f… – messages on Instagram.’
Addressing those who blame transgender people for Democratic losses in the recent elections, Oliver warned that such finger-pointing at a specific demographic “misses the point.”
John Oliver criticized the Democratic Party for sidelining trans issues during Kamala Harris’ campaign, contrasting the Republican Party’s aggressive spending on anti-trans attack ads.
Oliver argued that Democrats should have taken a stronger stance in supporting transgender people, and expressed frustration with the Harris campaign’s inability to effectively combat these attacks.
Oliver was referring to comments from Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi, who recently stated, “The Democrats need to stop pandering to the far left…I don’t want to discriminate against anyone, but I don’t think biological boys should play the roles of girls. ‘sport.’
Similar rhetoric was echoed by other Democratic lawmakers after Harris’ loss.
Although the presidential election did not go his way, Oliver highlighted important victories worth celebrating. He highlighted the overwhelming success of abortion referendums, even in conservative states, and Sarah McBride’s groundbreaking election in Delaware.
“Even amid the Republican Party’s massive anti-trans ad campaign, Delaware elected the nation’s first openly transgender member to Congress on Tuesday,” Oliver said.
“And across the country, at least 35 transgender and otherwise gender-expansive candidates won races in places like Montana, Hawaii and Kentucky, where Emma Curtis was elected to the Lexington City Council. And that’s a big problem.’
“It’s incredibly powerful to have one group say, ‘I don’t think you exist,’ and to be able to respond with, ‘I’m literally an elected official,’” he concluded.