Former U.S. president Barack Obama is urging empathy and understanding in conversations about trans rights. Speaking on Marc Maron’s “WTF Podcast,” Obama reflected on how his “old-fashioned” values shaped his approach to discussing trans issues during his presidency. Obama said: “If I talked about trans issues, I wasn’t talking down to people and saying, ‘oh, you’re a bigot’. I’d say, ‘you know what? It’s tough being a teenager. Let’s treat all kids decently. Why would we want to see kids bullied or shamed? What if it was our kid?’” Obama’s comments come as President Donald Trump, now in his second term, escalates anti-trans policies and rhetoric, including recently mocking trans people while meeting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose child is non-binary.
