Speaking at the Grand Old Party’s (GOP) second debate for the 2024 US presidential election, Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican Presidential candidate and Indian-American multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur, expressed his views on transgender issues. According to Ramaswamy, he believes ‘Transgenderism’ should be regarded as a mental health issue. He stated, “Transgenderism is a mental health disorder. We have to acknowledge the truth of that for what it is. It is not compassionate to affirm a kid’s confusion. That is not compassion. That is cruelty.”
The debate featured seven prominent Republican Party figures competing for the party’s nomination in the 2024 US presidential election. It began at 9 pm EST on Wednesday (6:30 am IST on Thursday) at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Ramaswamy also highlighted a concerning statistic, stating that over 50% of children facing gender dysphoria have contemplated suicide. Additionally, he criticized the rejection of a proposed law that would require schools to inform parents if their children change their gender identity at school. Vivek Ramaswamy emphasized the importance of parents being informed about their children, asserting that this should not be a controversial matter. He advocated for the prohibition of genital mutilation and puberty blockers before the age of 18, and he urged the treatment of gender dysphoria as a mental health disorder, aiming to restore empowerment to parents.
To support his stance, Ramaswamy shared anecdotes about two young women who regretted their gender-affirming surgeries. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that post-transition regret is rare. According to a comprehensive analysis of 27 studies involving almost 8,000 teenagers and adults who underwent transgender surgeries primarily in Europe, the United States, and Canada, an average of only 1% expressed regret, as reported by the Associated Press.
During a split-screen exchange with Nikki Haley, where she criticized Ramaswamy for his perceived lack of experience and what she considered risky ideas, the candidates engaged in a debate. The Republican National Committee (RNC) is organizing these debates, and the official nominees for both the President and Vice President will be declared during the national convention in July of the following year. The 2024 US presidential election is scheduled for November 5. The lineup of candidates included Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
While addressing the ongoing U.S. assistance to Ukraine, Vivek Ramaswamy offered critical remarks directed at Ukraine, presenting a nuanced perspective on the matter. Ramaswamy stated, “Just because Putin is an evil dictator does not automatically mean Ukraine is virtuous.” He further asserted that, in his view, China, rather than Russia, poses the primary threat to the United States. Ramaswamy argued that the strong U.S. position against Russia might be pushing Russia closer into alignment with China.