Rep. Seth Moulton encountered a forceful show of disapproval when he marched in the Boston Pride parade on June 6, drawing boos and confrontation from parade-goers upset over his inflammatory remarks about transgender people.
What Happened at the Parade
Video clips circulating on social media captured Moulton being booed along the parade route as he waved to constituents. According to Aidan Kohn-Murphy, a 22-year-old recent Harvard graduate who filmed one of the videos, a large group of protesters called out the congressman throughout his march. Crowd members shouted "Transphobe!" and "Trans lives matter!" while others yelled "Shame on you!" Moulton's campaign office did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the incident.
The Comments That Sparked Outrage
Moulton drew ire after making controversial statements in late 2024 about transgender athletes and inclusion. He referred to transgender girls as "male" and "formerly male," and later characterized pronoun inclusion as "weird," comparing it unfavorably to past civil rights movements. In comments to The New York Times, he expressed concern about transgender girls in women's sports, claiming Democrats were avoiding honest discussion about "challenges many Americans face." Scientific evidence shows zero connection between transgender athletes' participation and increased injury rates in women's sports.
Community Response and Political Consequences
Moulton's remarks prompted swift condemnation from LGBTQ+ organizations and fellow Democrats. Mass Equality, a state rights group, called his statements "harmful and factually inaccurate" and noted they contribute to transgender stigmatization. Governor Maura Healey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley publicly criticized his position, with Healey emphasizing the importance of not targeting vulnerable children. A top aide from his office resigned over the controversy, and hundreds of constituents gathered to protest outside his congressional office. Parade attendee Monica Reina-Gonzalez summed up community sentiment bluntly: "You can't come here and act like you support our community when you're blaming our kids for losing the election." Kohn-Murphy emphasized the stakes: "There's no queer community without trans people. Trans people have constantly led the way in our movement." Moulton is retiring from his House seat to challenge Senator Ed Markey, a reliable trans ally, in a Senate race.
Source: Erin in the Morning
Cover photo: Anastasiya Badun / Pexels
