Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed described himself as “cisgender and straight” in a video that circulated on social media Wednesday, a characterization he has used before while discussing transgender and LGBTQ issues.
“I’ve never walked in the world outside of being cisgender and straight,” El-Sayed said in the video.
The remark echoes language El-Sayed used in an earlier episode of his podcast, America Dissected, during an interview with Dr. Kellan Baker. On that episode, El-Sayed called himself a “cis straight man” while acknowledging the limits of his own perspective on issues facing LGBTQ people.
“I have to put my cards on the table here. I’m a cis straight man. I’ve never had to worry about violence directed at me because of my gender or sexual orientation,” El-Sayed said. “And I’ll admit, at times that’s left me with a bit of a blind spot when it comes to the climate of hate and marginalization LGBTQ+ people so often face. Though I have known my fair share of hate for other reasons.”
El-Sayed, who is running against Republican Mike Rogers for the Senate seat, has made support for “gender-affirming care” part of his campaign. His campaign website addresses the issue under a section on healthcare for women and LGBTQ Americans, stating that medical decisions should be left to patients and their doctors, with parents involved when a patient is a minor. The platform also opposes criminal penalties and funding restrictions aimed at providers who offer such care.
El-Sayed defended that stance in August during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s Jesse Watters Primetime. Asked whether he supported sex-change procedures for minors, El-Sayed argued that government should stay out of decisions made by patients, parents, and doctors.
The exchange turned to the topic of circumcision after El-Sayed asked host Jesse Watters directly whether he himself was circumcised. Watters said he was, but rejected the comparison, telling El-Sayed, “A circumcision is different than castration.”
El-Sayed responded by accusing Watters of being inconsistent about when he believed government should have a role in medical decisions, repeating his position that such choices belong to patients, parents, and doctors.
El-Sayed’s comments come as his Senate race against Rogers continues to draw national attention, with healthcare policy for transgender minors emerging as a recurring flashpoint between the candidates.
