Congressman Seth Moulton is coming under fire for his “transphobic” comments after the election when he said he didn’t want 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 party for the Republican red wave and Donald Trump’s victory — saying that Dems were “out of touch with the American people,” especially on transgender issues.
“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 told a New York Times reporter in the wake of Tuesday’s election.
The Salem Democrat is now facing heat for those comments, as the Witch City mayor and School Committee on Friday released a statement to families 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 in the message to families.
“Congressman Moulton’s comments with respect to trans and non-binary children do not reflect our values,” the officials added.
Salem City Councilor Kyle Alexander Davis called Moulton’s 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 also didn’t hold back in reaction to Moulton’s comments.
“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!”
The Herald has reached out to Moulton’s office for comment.
Earlier this year, a local school district passed a policy that allows players to sit out games without any repercussions.
The Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School Committee approved the policy that lets student-athletes not play in games against teams with players of the opposite sex. This vote came in the wake of the viral field hockey shot from a boy who seriously injured a girl.
A group of Salem parents is banding together to write letters to the editor of local newspapers, which they say they will then print out and hand deliver to his downtown office.
“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 said in a document outlining its effort. “We will actively stand up to protect our most vulnerable in our community.”
