Congressman Seth Moulton pounced on critics Friday night time for accusing him of failing the “Democratic Party purity test” for talking his thoughts about boys enjoying in women’ sports activities.
The Salem rep — a former U.S. Marine and presidential candidate — stated he’s sticking to his opinion that he doesn’t need his daughters getting “run over on the playing field by a male or formerly male athlete.”
The Massachusetts Democrat in his criticized remarks was blaming his occasion for the Republican crimson wave and Donald Trump’s victory — saying that Dems had been “out of touch with the American people,” particularly on transgender points.
“I have two little girls. I don’t want them getting run over on the playing field by a male or formerly male athlete. But as a Democrat, I’m supposed to be afraid to say that,” Moulton reportedly informed a New York Occasions reporter within the wake of Tuesday’s election.
The Salem Democrat is now going through warmth for these feedback, and his marketing campaign supervisor Matt Chilliak has resigned following his remarks, in accordance to the Globe.
The Herald reached out to Moulton’s workplace for remark about Chilliak, and a Moulton spokesperson responded, “We’re not commenting on personnel matters (office policy).”
Chilliak on election night time posted on social media, “Millions of Americans today showed that they hate immigrants and transgender people more than they fear fascism.”
Moulton is going through blowback from throughout the neighborhood. The Witch Metropolis mayor and College Committee on Friday launched an announcement to households about Moulton’s remarks.
“The Salem School Committee and district leaders denounce, in the strongest possible terms, the comments made by Congressman Seth Moulton regarding children’s athletic participation,” Mayor Dominick Pangallo and the committee members wrote within the message to households.
“Congressman Moulton’s comments with respect to trans and non-binary children do not reflect our values,” the officers added.
Moulton doubled down on his remarks Friday night, responding with an announcement after going through warmth all through the day on social media.
“I stand firmly in my belief for the need for competitive women’s sports to put limits on the participation of those with the unfair physical advantages that come with being born male,” Moulton stated in an announcement. “I am also a strong supporter of the civil rights of all Americans, including transgender rights. I will fight, as I always have, for the rights and safety of all citizens. These two ideas are not mutually exclusive, and we can even disagree on them.
“Yet there are many who, shouting from the extreme left corners of social media, believe I have failed the unspoken Democratic Party purity test,” the congressman added. “We did not lose the 2024 election because of any trans person or issue. We lost, in part, because we shame and belittle too many opinions held by too many voters and that needs to stop. Let’s have these debates now, determine a new strategy for our party since our existing one failed, and then unite to oppose the Trump agenda wherever it imperils American values.”
Salem Metropolis Councilor Kyle Alexander Davis had referred to as Moulton’s preliminary remarks “hate speech.”
“I have absolutely zero patience for this transphobic nonsense,” Davis wrote on social media. “This is a terrifying time to be queer. Suicide hotlines serving the LGBTQ+ community cannot keep up with the amount of people in crisis and this is how our congressman is spending his time. I need folks to understand that this sad excuse for a leader does not speak for Salem.”
“… the trans community is a blessing and any statement that seeks to scapegoat them is abhorrent,” the councilor added. “I do not believe that Seth Moulton is fit for office — every day that he continues to represent us in D.C. undermines the fact that he does not represent our values. I am deeply sorry to the trans community that had to be victims of hate speech from their own congressman on top of the shock and fear that they are already feeling.”
Boston State Rep. John Moran additionally didn’t maintain again in response to Moulton’s feedback.
“No, Seth Moulton, the only thing we here in Massachusetts shouldn’t be afraid to say is that you should find another job if you want to use an election loss as an opportunity to pick on our most vulnerable,” Moran posted. “Weak!”
Earlier this yr, an area college district handed a coverage that enables gamers to sit down out video games with none repercussions.
The Dighton-Rehoboth Regional College Committee accredited the coverage that lets student-athletes not play in video games in opposition to groups with gamers of the other intercourse. This vote got here within the wake of the viral discipline hockey shot from a boy who severely injured a lady.
A gaggle of Salem dad and mom is banding collectively to jot down letters to the editor of native newspapers, which they are saying they’ll then print out and hand ship to his downtown workplace.
“It’s critical that he knows that transphobic comments about trans youth will never slide — and that our community will not stand for anti-trans bigotry,” the group stated in a doc outlining its effort. “We will actively stand up to protect our most vulnerable in our community.”
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