Chris Christie distinguishes himself from Republican field, signaling support for child gender transition surgeries

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced late last month that he is running for president in 2024. In an apparent effort to distinguish himself from better-performing candidates in the Republican field, Christie — presently ranked seventh on average with less than two points to his name in the polls — has come out in support of child gender transition surgeries.

The Republican presidential candidate told CNN's Jake Tapper during his Sunday appearance on "State of the Nation" that he doesn't think "the government should ever be stepping into the place of the parents in helping to move their children through a process where those children are confused or concerned about their gender."

Tapper prompted the response in part by referencing Christie's past support for the transgender agenda.

Rebuffing the warnings of groups like the NJ Family Policy Council, Christie ratified Democrat legislation (S-3067/A-465) in 2017, barring public school districts from requiring transvestic students to use bathrooms or locker rooms corresponding with their biological sex.

As the result of this law, schools in the state are required to allow students to dress in accordance with their "gender identity," keep parents in the dark about a student's "transgender or transition status," and allow students to participate in gym sports with members of the opposite sex.

The LGBT lobby group Garden State Equality celebrated Christie at the time, stating, "Governor Christie took a stand for LGBT youth in New Jersey by signing this important legislation, and he deserves our thanks," reported the Gothamist.

The head of Garden State Equality noted on Twitter that Christie "did good today" and welcomed him "to come sit at the gay beach" — referencing an incident where the former governor was photographed sunbathing on a state beach he had ordered closed to the public.

In reply to Tapper, who noted that other Republicans were "going in the opposite direction" of the LGBT activist-affirming efforts he employed as governor, Christie said, "The fact is that folks who are under the age of 18 should have parental support and guidance and love as they make all of the key decisions of their life, and this should not be one that is excluded by the government in any way."

While the former governor is presently supportive of conversion therapies that seek to alter a patient's sex organs, he previously banned conversion therapies intended to alter sexual preferences.

Christie said at the time of the 2015 ban that on "issues of medical treatment for children, we must look to experts in the field to determine the relative risks and rewards," reported Fox News Digital.

"I believe that exposing children to these health risks without clear evidence of benefits that outweigh these serious risks is not appropriate," added Christie.

Unlike Christie, other declared Republican presidential candidates oppose child gender surgeries and irreversible puberty blockers for minors.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said in May, "You shouldn't allow a child to have gender-changing procedure until the age of 18 when they are an adult and they can make that decision. But we shouldn't have taxpayer dollars going to that," reported WCIV-TV.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has not simply condemned the transmogrification of minors with gender dysphoria but also banned the practice outright in the state of Florida.

Vivek Ramaswamy said he would implement a nationwide ban on so-called "gender-affirming care for minors," noting it's "actually the compassionate thing to do for children. ... Affirming their confusion is ... cruelty. For most of our history, we have viewed that as a mental health disorder. That's not a stigma. That's actually the first sign to asking how we, as adults and leaders, help our children by protecting them."

Former Vice President Mike Pence told the Des Moines Register, "If there was a move in the Congress to protect children from this radical gender ideology and to ban chemical or surgical transition treatment for kids under the age of 18, you bet I would support it."

Trump vowed in video posted to Truth Social in January that if re-elected, "madness will end": Men would no longer be able to compete in women's sports; federal law would recognize only two genders; sex-change surgeries on minors would be banned; and doctors responsible would be punished.

Christie, who trails Trump in the polls by roughly 50 points, tweeted Sunday, "Just hit 15k donors. Don't worry Donny, I'm coming."

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