On Tuesday, Elon Musk announced that he plans to move the headquarters of SpaceX and social media platform X (formerly Twitter) from California to Texas after the California government enacted the SAFETY Act.
Musk has made bold claims in the past to remove his businesses from the state when he disagrees with Governor Gavin Newsom’s political moves. This recent threat comes at a time when political tensions are at an all-time high in the country.
First Law of Its Kind in the U.S.
The SAFETY Act is a new law in California that would make it illegal for public schools to notify parents when their child begins to identify as transgender.
The first of its kind, the law was created to protect transgender kids from experiencing more abuse in the home. Several states have created the inverse law, requiring teachers to report to parents when a child deviates from their assigned gender at birth.
Musk’s Big Announcement
On Tuesday, Musk announced that he would be moving his companies, SpaceX and social media platform X, from California to Texas after Newsom signed the SAFETY Act into law.
He posted his thoughts on X: “Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, Calif., to Starbase, Texas.”
Other Beef with California
Musk allegedly told Newsome a year ago that laws of this nature would force businesses and families to leave the state in an effort to protect their families.
He also noted that moving the X headquarters from San Francisco to Austin, Texas, won’t require “dodging gangs of violent drug addicts” to get in and out of the building.
Texas Offers Lower Tax Rates
Another common reason for large corporations leaving California is the high tax rates for individuals and businesses.
Musk has previously stated that he has changed his personal residence to Texas to avoid the heavy personal levies that California imposes on its residents. The income tax rate sits at 12.3% in California, the highest in the country, plus an additional 1% levy for people whose annual income is $1M or more.
Musk’s Personal Gripe with Trans People
Many people might not know that Elon Musk is the father of 12 kids with several different women.
One of his oldest is Vivian Jenna Wilson, who transitioned their gender in 2022 and refused to speak with Musk due to their contrasting views.
Blaming Marxism
Musk claims that “neo-Marxism” is to blame for his daughter’s transition and has often described her as a “fervent Marxist.”
He also claims that his daughter hid her true identity from him until he discovered the information from someone else. It’s unclear how supportive or unsupportive Musk would have been had his daughter shared the information freely.
Blaming Schools for Transgender Identity
After his daughter’s new gender expression was uncovered, Musk quickly blamed schools for the change.
Vivian filed the petition to change her name and noted that “I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.” Musk was married to Vivian’s mother from 2000 to 2008 and welcomed five children, not including their first child, Nevada, who passed in infancy. It’s unclear how long Vivian lived with Musk and what their relationship looked like once the divorce was initiated.
Tesla Already Moved to Texas
The tech mogul will move his other business, Tesla, to Austin in 2021 to avoid paying corporate tax rates and California Covid-19 restrictions.
He previously claimed that the state’s reaction to the virus was “fascist” and ultimately not going to stop the spread.
Are Transgender Laws Good for Kids?
Although several red states have passed contrary laws, California took a stand as the first state to protect the privacy and rights of kids under 18.
Although some kids who identify as transgender may experience a mental health issue known as gender dysphoria, many do not. For kids, being transgender is as simple as changing their name, their pronouns, and their clothing. Protecting a child’s right to express themselves at school can often save them from experiencing emotional and physical abuse at home.
High Rates of Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth
The Trevor Project released a study showing that almost 28% of all LBGTQ+ youth have experienced homelessness or housing instability in their lives.
The main cause of homelessness in this demographic is parents kicking them out for disagreeing with being gay or transgender.
Tesla Scores High For LGBTQ+ Quality Index
Despite his outspoken remarks for disliking transgender people on X, his EV company Tesla previously scored a perfect mark on the LGBTQ+ index.
The criteria for the LGBTQ+ index marks companies on four main pillars: “non-discrimination policies across business entities, equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families, internal education and accountability metrics to promote LGBTQ inclusion competency, [and] public commitment to LGBTQ equality”.
