At the second GOP debate, Vivek Ramaswamy made his stance on transgenderism “very clear” by saying it was a “mental health disorder.” Here’s the whole story.
Parental Rights
At the second Republican Presidential Debate, the topic of parental rights in America’s schools was brought up.
Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was asked about his stance on the rights parents have when it comes to transgender children in America.
One of the debate moderators was former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino.
Before asking the question, Perino told Ramaswamy that “over 10.7 million students in over 18,000 public schools nationwide have the ability to change their identity without parental notification.”
“Transgenderism…is a Mental Health Disorder.”
Perino’s question for Ramaswamy was whether or not he would “pass a federal law to protect parental rights” like Governor Chris Christie said he would do.
Ramaswamy said he wanted to be “very clear” on this issue.
He began his answer by saying, “Transgenderism, especially in kids, is a mental health disorder.”
He wants Americans to “acknowledge the truth of that for what it is.”
Affirming Kid’s Confusion
Ramaswamy also said, “It is not compassionate to affirm a kid’s confusion.” He said this was “cruelty.”
The presidential candidate then told a story about “two young women” he met “early” on the campaign trail who he said “regret getting double mastectomies and a hysterectomy.”
Ramaswamy said, “One of [the women] will never have children,” and it was “barbaric” that “we allowed that to happen in this country.”
“Genital Mutilation or Chemical Castration” Ban
Ramaswamy’s answer to Perino’s question was that he “will ban genital mutilation or chemical castration,” and parents “absolutely have the right to know.”
Perino wanted clarification, so she asked, “Would you try to pass a federal law that says parents should have that right?” Ramaswamy said, “We stand for parental rights, yes.”
Ramaswamy’s comments on transgenderism being a “mental health disorder” received backlash on social media almost immediately.
“Proud Mom of a Trans Daughter”
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal posted on X saying she was a “proud mom of a trans daughter,” and Ramaswamy’s comments were “disgusting rhetoric.”
Jayapal called for politicians to “stop hurting our kids” by using them as “political pawns.”
She said she would “never stop fighting for our trans community” and concluded her comment by telling the trans community, “We’ve got you.”
“Hateful Bullies”
Another person posted to X saying that Vivek Ramaswamy’s comments about transgenderism being a “mental health disorder” was “quite literally the most saddening moment of the entire debate.”
He called Republicans “hateful bullies.”
“Shameful demagoguery,” said another X user.
This commenter said, “I feel for the transgender children in America who have to listen to Vivek Ramaswamy and the Republican presidential candidates telling them they have a ‘mental disorder.'”
Questioning His Credentials
One commenter questioned, “Vivek is now a mental health professional?”
This person said politicians should be required to “produce credentials to prove their point” because “they know nothing about ‘mental disorder.'”
Despite the controversy he caused, Ramaswamy stood by what he said and reiterated it on his X account after the debate.
In his post, he said, “If a boy thinks he’s a girl, that’s a mental health condition.”
“Zero Tiptoeing around This Issue”
He also added that “Parents have the right to know.”
Not everyone disagreed with Ramaswamy’s comments. Many people showed their agreement with what Ramaswamy said by simply commenting “correct” on his post on X.
One person said they “deeply admired” Ramaswamy’s “courage.”
This person wrote, “Zero tiptoeing around this issue sets you apart from most candidates.”
The post “Transgenderism…is a Mental Health Disorder.” – “Zero Tiptoeing” Ramaswamy – Promises to “Ban Genital Mutilation” and Restore “Parental Rights” first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ben Von Klemperer