Dem governor doubles down on transgender protections after Trump State of the Union

By Fox News · Fox News

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vowed to veto any legislation targeting the LGBTQ community just one night after President Donald Trump talked about banning minors' gender transition surgeries without parental consent. "I want you to know that you are welcome in Michigan," Whitmer said in her State of the State Address on Wednesday night. "You belong, you matter, and no matter who comes after you, I'll stand in the way." The Democrat leader added: " In Michigan , we look out for each other. That's why I'll always fight for your freedom and safety. And I'll veto any legislation that diminishes your humanity. I got your back." NEWSOM STOP IN KEY PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY STATE SPARKS MORE 2028 SPECULATION Trump vowed to ban sex changes for minors without parental consent in his State of the Union, while Whitmer's remarks spoke right past parents' rights – flash points in both the 2022 midterms and 2024 presidential election cycle – with a presumptive vow to veto any sex change bans. "Surely we can all agree, no state can be allowed to rip children from their parents' arms and transition them to a new gender against the parents' will," Trump said in his State of the Union on Tuesday night. "Who would believe that we're even talking about it? We must ban it, and we must ban it immediately." Trump's effort to ban gender transitions for minors without parental consent puts the political onus on the parents' rights to decide their children's fate. Any Whitmer vow to veto legislation of such a ban would pit the state's rights against the parent. MICHIGAN PARENT WANTS TRUMP TO ACT AFTER DAUGHTER SHARES LOCKER ROOM WITH TRANS-ATHLETE Whitmer is term-limited, opening up the key battleground state of Michigan as the top of the 2026 midterm election cycle , potentially setting her up to get an early start on a 2028 Democratic presidential primary campaign. "Gretchen Whitmer's vow to veto protections for children facing irreversible sex-change procedures is beyond extreme — it's outri…