Left-wing activists protested outside Rep. Seth Moulton’s office after the Massachusetts Democrat said he doesn't want his daughters "getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete."
The activists, led by Salem city council member Kyle Davis, held a "Neighbors Against Hate" rally on Sunday outside Moulton’s office in Salem, Massachusetts. Davis advertised the rally as a "celebration of the trans and queer community" and said it was "spurred by Trump's election victory" and "Seth Moulton's recent transphobic remarks."
"Our aim for this event is to communicate loud and clear [that] we love and stand in solidarity with the trans community on the north shore," Davis posted on X along with a poster for the rally.
Please join us in a celebration of the trans and queer community. Our aim for this event is to communicate loud and clear to that we love and stand in solidarity with the trans community on the north shore. pic.twitter.com/oi9kN4JsCN
— Kyle Davis (@KyleForSalem) November 14, 2024
The rally came roughly one week after Moulton called on his party’s leadership to reconsider its approach to transgender issues.
"I have two little girls. 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," Moulton said, criticizing the Democratic Party for "spend[ing] way too much time trying not to offend anyone rather than being brutally honest about the challenges many Americans face."
Moulton, who has previously backed pro-transgender bills, faced immediate scrutiny from fellow Democrats. Davis publicly demanded Moulton’s resignation, while Massachusetts Democratic Party chair Steve Kerrigan said Moulton’s remarks "do not represent the broad view of our party."
Moulton said the backlash "proves my point that we can’t even have these discussions as a party."
"I was just speaking authentically as a dad about one of many issues where I think we’re just out of touch with the majority of voters, and I stand by my position," Moulton said during an MSNBC appearance.
"We’ve got to be able to have these debates," Moulton continued. "But, instead, we have a wing of our party that shames us, that tries to cancel people who try to even bring up these difficult topics, and, frankly, shames voters."