Abdul El-Sayed Identifies as 'Cisgender and Straight' in Recent Video

Michigan Democrat Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed identified himself as "cisgender and straight" in a video circulated on social media on October 15, 2026. "I’ve never walked in the world outside of being cisgender and straight," El-Sayed stated. Previously, he described himself similarly while discussing transgender issues on his America Dissected podcast with Dr. Kellan Baker. He mentioned, "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 acknowledged that this perspective has sometimes left him with a blind spot regarding the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, although he noted he has experienced hate for other reasons. El-Sayed's campaign platform includes support for "gender-affirming care" as part of his healthcare agenda for women and LGBTQ Americans. His campaign website states that healthcare decisions should be made by patients and their doctors, with parental involvement when the patient is a minor, and opposes criminal penalties and funding restrictions that prevent providers from offering such care. During an August appearance on Fox News Channel’s Jesse Watters Primetime, El-Sayed defended his position on healthcare decisions for minors, arguing that they should be made by patients, parents, and doctors. He engaged in a discussion with Watters about the comparison between sex changes and circumcision, with El-Sayed asserting that government involvement in medical decisions should be selective.