In the wake of Trump’s election, a few prominent Democratic lawmakers have been quick to play the blame game on a host of Democratic tactics, messaging, and platforms—including those in support of trans rights. Now, one lawmaker is defending his comments following backlash, claiming “unwavering support” for the LGBTQ+ community.
Democratic congressman Seth Moulton represents the 6th District in the progressive stronghold of Massachusetts. But following election day, Moulton made comments that were criticized by many of his constituents as questioning those progressive values and caving to the right.
In an interview with the New York Times, Moulton expressed opposition to the inclusion of trans athletes in sports. “I have two little girls,” he said, “I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat I’m supposed to be afraid to say that.”
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Now speaking to The Advocate, Moulton defended his comments, saying that he believes Democrats should be more willing to debate trans rights.
“What I said is that we have to be willing to have difficult discussions about contentious issues in the Democratic Party,” Moulton said. “I listed a number of issues— from the economy to immigration to trans rights—and I didn’t take a position on anything per se. I just said, as a dad, this is something I think about, and I know others do, too.”
Moulton cited a recent post-election Blueprint poll which found that cultural issues, such as trans rights, played a major role in the decision for swing voters.
“The reality, whether we like it or not, is that voters were thinking about this issue because Republicans ran hateful but effective ads,” Moulton said. “If we refuse to engage, then Republicans are going to define the terms of the debate. And when they do that, a lot of people are going to get hurt.”
This poll conflicts with the findings of other polls, like the HRC’s, in which only 4% of voters cited their opposition to trans rights as a motivating factor. Additionally, it will likely be several months before researchers can give us a definitive picture on what the driving forces behind the election were.
Throughout the interview, Moulton maintained his point that Democrats have avoided the discussion. “I think it was a huge mistake for Kamala Harris to just dodge questions and ignore the attacks rather than forcefully respond, not only to correct the record on issues like this where Trump was peddling disinformation but also to win over Americans who care about civil rights—who don’t want any kids to be attacked at school for who they are,” he said.
Whether expressing sympathy for the idea that “formerly male” athletes should be kept out of girls sports constitutes a forceful response to Republican fearmongering was not a topic Moulton broached.
Instead, Moulton offered some clarity to his own stance “I’m not claiming to have all the answers,” he said. “I support evidence-based, sport-by-sport policies—like the Olympics—that prioritize fairness and safety. What I’m saying is that Democrats need to lead this discussion because otherwise, the Republicans will set the rules.”
Moulton explained that, since his initial comments, he has had many conversations with his queer constituents and advocacy groups. “I understand that some people might be offended, but I hope you can understand how sincere I am about doing the tough work, including putting myself out there in the face of criticism, to ensure we make progress on these issues,” he concluded. “We can’t just let Republicans win this debate.”
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