An increasing number of once-beloved cultural icons have seen their names sullied by LGBT extremists over supposedly bigoted remarks about transgenderism.
The latest example of this trend involves Carlos Santana, whose career as a guitarist has spanned generations and includes collaborations with some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Despite the overwhelmingly positive reputation he has built over a period of decades, a statement that would have been completely innocuous a few short years ago has opened him up to backlash from the “cancel culture” crowd.
He offered an opinion shared by countless others across America and around the world that a person cannot simply change his or her gender.
“When God made you and me, before we came out of the womb, you know who you are and what you aren’t,” Santana said. “Later on, when you grow out of it, you see things and you start believing you could be something that sounds good, but you know it ain’t right.”
Although he made it clear that he is “OK” with any decision individuals choose to make in their private lives, he insisted that simply declaring a gender transition does not make it so.
“Because a woman is a woman and a man is a man,” he concluded. “That’s it. Whatever you want to do in the closet, that’s your business.”
During the recent New Jersey concert, he also expressed support for comedian Dave Chapelle, whose rhetoric on the topic has earned him similar criticism.
In addition to LGBT activists, mainstream news outlets have also unequivocally referred to Santana’s remarks as “anti-trans.”
"A woman is a woman and a man is a man. That’s it," the legendary guitarist told the crowd. https://t.co/9lcmoBLV8D
— KTLA (@KTLA) August 24, 2023
He subsequently responded to the criticism by asserting that his “personal goal” is to “honor and respect all persons’ ideals and beliefs, whether they are LGBTQ or not.”
The statement went on to declare: “This is the planet of free will and we have all been given this gift. … I will now pursue this goal to be happy and have fun, and for everyone to believe what they want and follow in your hearts without fear. It takes courage to grow and glow in the light that you are and to be true, genuine, and authentic. We grow and learn to shine our light with Love and compliments. Have a glorious existence. Peace.”
In a social media statement following the controversy, Santana apologized for the “insensitive comments” and “to the transgender community and everyone [he] offended.”
