The Los Angeles Post

HORVATH CONDEMNS HERTZBERG’S INSENSITIVE RESPONSE OVER TRANS COMMENTS IN DEBATE

by ·

Fresh Off of a Refusal to Stand With Trans and Nonbinary Students in Sports, Hertzberg’s Claim of Allyship Rings False

Los Angeles, CA- When asked about who should compete in women’s sports at the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association forum on September 21, Sacramento State Senator Bob Hertzberg replied, “I don’t know the answer to that question… When it comes to me I’ll do my homework. It’s not my…it’s not something that falls in the purview of what I’ve got to do in this job.” His remarks come on the heels of the historic bill, SB 107, that Governor Newsom recently signed, which Bob refused to vote for.

In response, Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath released the following statement:

“Big Oil Bob’s insensitive response rings especially false, claiming trans and gender nonbinary students deserve protection, when just days earlier he couldn’t give a definitive answer because he hasn’t ‘done his homework,’ and claims it is ‘not something that falls in the purview’ of the County Board of Supervisors. Clearly, Big Oil Bob has NOT done his homework on what the County Board of Supervisors actually does, which is to oversee the mental health and social services of Los Angeles.

To add insult to injury, Senator Hertzberg refused to even vote on Senator Wiener’s newly-signed Bill, SB-107, which guarantees gender-affirming care for trans and nonbinary kids and families.

Also in his ‘apology,’ Big Oil Bob claims credit for the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000, AB 537. Clearly, he is once again willing take to take credit for the work of others, this time from Sheila Kuehl, a trailblazing lesbian and equal rights champion. The LGBTQ+ community sees through this act and the voters do, too.

I call on Big Oil Bob to apologize to the trans community for his hurtful, ignorant remarks and for refusing to provide safe refuge to vulnerable people under attack by right wing extremists in our country. We need leadership in the face of these unprecedented attacks, not someone who stands idly by when our rights are under assault.”