Ted Cruz released a television attack ad on Donald Trump today over his support for letting transgender people use the bathroom of their choosing.
The 30-second ad says it's "common sense" that transgender people shouldn't be allowed to use that bathroom that matches their gender identity, even though they always have -- until states like North Carolina started banning it.
Trump said during an interview with the Today show Thursday that he would let Caitlyn Jenner use the women's bathroom at his properties, for example.
Cruz has pounced on that position and is attacking Trump everywhere he goes. He raised the issue extensively during an impropmptu press conference at a campaign stop in Virginia this morning, pretending Trump had actually "come out for grown men going into the bathroom with little girls."
Cruz repeatedly portrays trans people as child predators. And the new attack ad takes the same approach. It also declares Trump has "joined the ranks of the PC police."
LGBT advocates were outraged by the ad, which attacks trans people for the first time so far in this presidential campaign cycle.
"At a time when transgender women are at a disproportionately high risk for violence and assault, Ted Cruz's reckless ad puts them at even greater risk," said Human Rights Campaign communications director Jay Brown. "Moreover, what message does Ted Cruz think this sends to transgender youth across this country? We deserve a president who'll fight to protect the rights and dignity of everyone -- not a reckless, feckless politician who'll do or say anything to score a point."
The Cruz campaign had released an earlier web version of the ad, which can be viewed in The Advocate's report below:
