Michael Bloomberg Described Trans Women As ‘Some Man Wearing A Dress’ In 2016. What About Now?

Michael Bloomberg Described Trans Women As ‘Some Man Wearing A Dress’ In 2016. What About Now? - Forbes

Michael Bloomberg Described Trans Women As ‘Some Man Wearing A Dress’ In 2016. What About Now? - Forbes
Clothing company MM LaFleur offers to dress women candidates for free - Bizwomen - Chicago Business Journal
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Michael Bloomberg Described Trans Women As ‘Some Man Wearing A Dress’ In 2016. What About Now? - Forbes

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 12:09 PM PST

LGBTQ Pride in New York — NEW YORK - JUNE 30: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (L) greets the designer of the LGBT Pride ... [+] flag, Gilbert Baker, as they both march in the annual Gay Pride parade June 30, 2002 in New York City. Baker, who identified as a gay man, died in 2017. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Three weeks after Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg released his LGBTQ policy platform, a campaign spokesperson for the New York City billionaire has at long last responded to controversial remarks he made about transgender women.

In a 2016 appearance at Oxford University, Bloomberg argued transgender rights won't gain traction in the U.S. Midwest because only the "intelligentsia" can understand why "some man wearing a dress should be in a locker room with their daughter."

In the two weeks since those remarks surfaced, Bloomberg has been hammered about his other controversial comments on policing, women and race, as well as his political history as a Republican. The former New York City mayor has apologized for the NYPD's stop and frisk policies he once championed, attempted to circumvent attacks on his reputation by women who worked for him and accuse him of misogyny, and tried to explain away his remarks on redlining. The latest barrage at Bloomberg is for a broadside at farmers and factory workers whose jobs he said require less "gray matter." The billionaire's campaign was swift in its response to that attack, claiming the video was edited to remove the context.

But until now, his campaign has been silent about a transphobic speech he made less than four years ago, that also denigrated the Midwest:

In response to a request for an explanation of Bloomberg's remarks, a campaign spokesperson told Forbes the following:

"Mike understands that the transgender community has been under attack for decades and the advance of rights has not been equal. In April 2002, during his first year as mayor, Mike signed a sweeping transgender civil rights bill into law. His company provides comprehensive healthcare coverage for his transgender employees. As president, he has a comprehensive plan to secure rights for transgender Americans, including passing the Equality Act, ensuring transgender people have access to affirming healthcare and working to end the crisis of violence against transgender women. Mike is running to defeat Donald Trump and reverse the many policies he has implemented that attack the rights of the transgender community."

Bloomberg campaign spokesperson

However, the above statement does not provide clarification or touch on Bloomberg's 2016 comments.

This morning, Bloomberg learned he is now qualified to join Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. on stage Wednesday in Las Vegas for a debate organized by NBC News and The Nevada Independent. The debate is the last before the Feb. 22 Nevada caucuses, and although he may garner write-in votes, Bloomberg is not on the ballot.

It will be his first Democratic primary debate, the first one to feature only six contenders, and the second debate without any candidate who identifies as a person of color. The other billionaire in the race, Tom Steyer, had not qualified for the debate as of press time.

The questions by the moderators — NBC Nightly News" and "Dateline NBC" anchor Lester Holt, "Meet the Press" moderator and NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd, NBC News Chief White House Correspondent and host of "MSNBC Live" Hallie Jackson, Noticias Telemundo Senior Correspondent Vanessa Hauc and Jon Ralston of The Nevada Independent — will surely hone in on his responses to the many controversies dogging Bloomberg's campaign. His fellow candidates will certainly pounce on those issues as well.

But will anyone ask the former mayor if he still believes trans women are men in dresses? Will anyone press him to explain why he said people living in the Midwest cannot embrace trans Americans because they're not part of "the intelligentsia"? Up until last December, LGBTQ issues, and trans issues in particular, have been ignored by the moderators at all of the other eight debates, as Windy City News reported.

Whatever happens, America will be watching.

Clothing company MM LaFleur offers to dress women candidates for free - Bizwomen - Chicago Business Journal

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 07:22 AM PST

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Clothing company MM LaFleur offers to dress women candidates for free - Bizwomen Chicago Business Journal

Gayle King on how ‘Dress for Success’ empowers women - KOIN.com

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 08:13 AM PST

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- It's a day that has been circled on the calendar for months...National Drink Wine Day!

Lindsey Nygren from Naked Winery joined AM Extra to showcase some of its wine. But instead of just giving Jenny and Emily some sample, there was a catch. Lindsey quizzed the pair on some basic wine facts.