On Wednesday, during the Democratic presidential debate, Julian Castro, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under former President Barack Obama, decided biological men should be given the same rights to an abortion as biological women, stating, “Let’s also not forget someone in the trans community, a trans female, is poor, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have the right to exercise that right to choose.”
Trans females are biological men who claim identity as women.
Castro’s answer was triggered by NBC News’ Lester Holt, who asked, “Secretary Castro, this one is for you. All of you on stage support a woman’s right to an abortion. You all support some version of a government health care option. Would your plan cover abortion, Mr. Secretary?”
Castro answered, “Yes, it would. I don’t believe only in reproductive freedom, I believe in reproductive justice. And, you know, what that means is that just because a woman — or let’s also not forget someone in the trans community, a trans female, is poor, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have the right to exercise that right to choose. And so I absolutely would cover the right to have an abortion.”
Castro also attacked the pro-life bills that have passed in various states, arguing, “In our country today, a person’s right to choose is under assault in places like Missouri and Alabama and Georgia. I would appoint judges to the federal bench that understand the precedent of Roe v. Wade and will respect it. And in addition to that, make sure that we fight hard as we transition our healthcare system to one where everybody can get and exercise that right.”
Castro has endorsed repealing the Hyde Amendment, which states that Medicaid will not fund an abortion unless the woman’s life is in danger or the baby was conceived after a rape or incest. Castro tweeted, “All women should have access to reproductive care, regardless of their income or the state they live in. Abortion care is health care—it’s time to repeal the #HydeAmendment.”
Castro’s transgender abortion remark triggered some hilarity on Twitter:
Allie Beth Stuckey joked, “People are saying Castro stood out the most last night. I didn’t see that at all. Maybe it happened after he said biological men could get pregnant and I turned the TV off.”
Mollie Hemingway of The Federalist: “Apparently Julian Castro said he supports MEN who identify as WOMEN having abortions. We need to shut this debate down for an immediate biology lesson.”
Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire said seriously, “In a sane country, Julian Castro’s political career would be over after making the insane claim that biological men can get pregnant. But this is not a sane country, so the remark earned wild applause and his poll numbers will surge today.”
There were others: