California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing backlash after falsely claiming that neither he nor his office has ever used the term “Latinx” as a gender-neutral alternative to Latino/a. However, his past social media posts prove otherwise.
During an episode of his podcast, This is Gavin Newsom, the governor sat down with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk to discuss political issues, including the use of gender-neutral language. Newsom attempted to distance himself from far-left gender ideology, saying, “I had one meeting where people started going around the table with the pronouns. I’m like: ‘What the hell? Why is this the biggest issue?’”
He also addressed concerns about transgender athletes in women’s sports, stating, “I think it’s an issue of fairness, I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness — it’s deeply unfair.”
Newsom then made a bold claim, stating, “Not one person ever in my office has ever used the word Latinx.” However, a quick search of his social media history contradicts his statement. His official Twitter (now X) account has multiple posts using the term “Latinx” over the years.
For example, in April 2019, Newsom posted: “We’re building a California for all. Proud to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month.” Similarly, in January 2020, he tweeted: “Latinx representation matters in every industry. We must uplift & empower all communities.” Additional tweets from 2020 and 2021 also included “Latinx.”
Ironically, in 2023, Newsom criticized Republican-led efforts to ban the term, saying they should focus on banning “assault rifles” instead. This contradiction has sparked criticism from both conservatives and Latinos, many of whom reject the term “Latinx” as unnecessary and offensive.
