—Falsely equated gender-affirming surgery to “genital mutilation” during hostile questioning in the confirmation hearings for Dr. Rachel Levine to be assistant health secretary. Levine, who went on to be confirmed, is the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the Senate.
—Quoted a noted anti-LGBTQ group as experts in pediatric medicine. The leading pediatric medical society is the American Academy of Pediatrics and it supports gender-affirming care for transgender children and allowing trans children to participate in school sports.
—Badgered Education Secretary Miguel Cardona about transgender sports participation, asking: “Do you think it’s fair to have boys running in the girls track meet?” and falsely claiming that transgender participation will “destroy girls sports.” Trans people have been participating in sports for years, with no evidence of destroying girls sports.
—Argued that protections for gender identity discrimination were unnecessary.
—Wrote an op-ed saying he disagreed with the Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage: “While I disagree with Supreme Court’s redefinition of marriage, I believe that all Americans have the right to contract.” He described the decision as a “new definition of marriage.”
—Committed to repealing all of President Obama’s executive orders, including protections for LGBTQ workers from discrimination.
—Said of President Obama’s decision to publicly support same-sex marriage: “Call me cynical, but I wasn’t sure his views on marriage could get any gayer.”