Amid the debate surrounding transgender women participating in women’s sports, legendary guitarist Carlos Santana has recently made it very clear where he stands on the debate.
After some comments Carlos Santana made during a recent concert, it’s quite unlikely you’ll ever see him supporting transgender athletes competing according to their gender identity, as the rock and roll legend had some pretty harsh words for the transgender community, saying “a woman is a woman and a man is a man” and implying that transgender people should simply stay in the closet.
“When God made you and me, before we came out of the womb, you know who you are and what you are,” Santana said at a recent concert according to Billboard. “Later on, when you grow out of it, you see things, and you start believing that you could be something that sounds good, but you know it ain’t right. Because a woman is a woman and a man is a man. That’s it. Whatever you wanna do in the closet, that’s your business. I’m OK with that.”
They’re some pretty strong words from Santana, and they led to an equally strong reaction on social media.
I also didn’t have Santana comes out as an ignorant transphobe on my bingo card today
lots of surprises in today’s bingo is what I’m saying https://t.co/tkf8RoEAiA
— Tilly Bridges (she/her) (@TillyBridges) August 25, 2023
Why can’t people just shut up? Who asked you? https://t.co/5EASNHBlN0
— ✨Yeehawncé ✨ (@Glamazon1026) August 25, 2023
Such a small minded view of people.
Very disappointing https://t.co/Kiq0XVNapX— ✏️Pencil of the Court✏️ (@CourtPencil) August 24, 2023
Bro is older than free speech what did y’all expect 😭 https://t.co/zEqg5CtJ0h
— mijo (@blueyuck) August 25, 2023
Farewell and goodnight, Abuelo. Sorry this is who you are https://t.co/Ik1UcUc7y7
— Cheryl Puente (@CherylPuente) August 25, 2023
Pathetic https://t.co/khcCp0SgUr
— CODYFIED (@codybayne) August 25, 2023
Santana did later apologize for his comments in a statement to Billboard.
“I am sorry for my insensitive comments. They don’t reflect that I want to honor and respect all person’s ideals and beliefs,” Santana said in his statement. “I realize that what I said hurt people and that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to the transgender community and everyone I offended.”
Apology or not, he made his stance clear.
