Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton is facing calls to resign amid accusations of “treason” for speaking out against trans athletes

Massachusetts Democratic U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton faced criticism from members of his own party last day after he spoke out against the left's stance on transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports.

In an interview with The New York Times, Moulton expressed his feelings on the issue, citing his position as a father of two daughters.

“Democrats spend far too much time trying not to offend anyone rather than being brutally honest about the challenges facing many Americans,” he said. “I have two little girls. I don’t want them to be run over on the field by a male or former male athlete, but as a Democrat I should be afraid to say that.”

Moulton reiterated his stance in a statement released Friday evening.

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“I firmly believe that in competitive women’s sport it is necessary to limit the participation of those who have the unfair physical advantages that come with being born male,” his statement said. “I am also a strong supporter of the civil rights of all Americans, including transgender rights.”

“As always, I will fight for the rights and safety of all citizens. These two ideas are not mutually exclusive, and we may even disagree about them. Yet there are many who scream from the far-left corners of social media. “I think I have failed the Democratic Party’s unspoken purity test.

“We didn’t lose the 2024 election because of any transgender person or issue. We lost in part because we shame and denigrate too many opinions from too many voters, and that has to stop. Let us now have these debates and determine a new strategy for our party since our existing one failed, and then move together to oppose the Trump agenda wherever it threatens American values.”

The comments have drawn strong condemnations of Moulton, many from his Democratic allies.

Massachusetts state Rep. Manny Cruz suggested in a post on X that Moulton's stance was “a betrayal.”

“Congressman Moulton, your commitment then was to protect the LGBTQ community, advocate for their rights and compassion. Now, on a political whim, our congressman has betrayed the words he signed just last year by scapegoating the failures of transgender youth in sports.” You said you would “stand with Nagly and on “Stand with our entire community … against all forms of bigotry, discrimination, bullying and harassment,” Cruz wrote.

Salem City Councilman Kyle Davis, another Democrat, called for Moulton to resign.

“I don't expect an apology from you [Moulton]“I’m looking for a resignation,” Davis wrote in a post on X.

Massachusetts State Senator Jamie Eldridge also condemned Moulton in a post on X and discouraged other Democrats in his state from following Moulton's example.

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“Don’t give up on our values,” Eldridge wrote in a message to his fellow Democrats in Massachusetts.

Moulton isn't the only Democrat who has moved away from supporting biological men in women's and girls' sports in the most recent election cycle. In the same New York Times article that quoted Moulton, New York Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi also spoke out against it.

“Democrats need to stop turning to the far left,” Suozzi said. “I don't want to discriminate against anyone, but I don't think biological boys should play in girls' sports.

“Democrats don’t say that, and that’s what they should.”

Democrats who previously voted for legislation that would allow transgender inclusion in women's sports have publicly denounced their support for the concept in the weeks leading up to Election Day. Those Democrats include Texas Rep. Colin Allred, Texas Rep. Vicente Gonzalez and Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola.

Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown recently defended himself when linked to the issue by claiming he was never in favor of allowing biological men in women's sports.

“It’s already banned in Ohio,” Brown boasted in a campaign ad released in October.

However, some members of the party continue to advocate for transgender inclusion and the right of transgender athletes to compete against biological women.

Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attacked the Green Party's presidential nomination after the party's vice presidential candidate Butch Ware spoke out against it Transgender athletes in women's sports.

“I don’t think biological men should do that play in women's sportsWare said in a video posted on X by lawyer and columnist Olayemi Olurin. “I think it creates an unfair, you know, competitive advantage.”

Ocasio-Cortez responded to the video, calling the ticket “predatory.”

The Biden-Harris administration issued a sweeping rule in April clarifying that Title IX's ban on “sex” discrimination in schools also includes discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and “pregnancy or related medical conditions.” . And while the government insisted the regulation does not affect athletic fitness, several experts say Evidence presented told Fox News Digital in June that it would ultimately bring more biological men into women's sports.

Ocasio-Cortez argued that reform did not go far enough to benefit transgender people, and particularly transgender athletes who want to compete in women's sports.

“Absolutely no reason for the Biden admin to do this. It is indefensible and embarrassing. The admin can still take this back, and they should. “It’s a disgrace,” Ocasio wrote in response to a report that the change would allow schools to impose bans on transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports.

Bills such as the Equality Act and a Transgender Bill of Rights have been proposed and co-sponsored by Democrats that would help enable transgender inclusion in women's sports on a national level.

President-elect Trump has proposed a federal ban on transgender inclusion in women's and girls' sports.

A survey in June conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago asked respondents to consider whether transgender athletes of both genders should be allowed to participate in sports leagues that correspond to their preferred gender identity rather than their biological sex.

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65 percent answered that this should either never or only rarely be allowed. When respondents were asked specifically about adult transgender athletes competing on women's sports teams, 69% disagreed.

The United Nations published study results saying nearly 900 biological women were denied medals in sports because they were beaten by transgender athletes.

The study entitled “Violence against women and girls in sportAccording to information received as of March 30, more than 600 athletes did not win medals in more than 400 competitions in 29 different sports, bringing the total to over 890 medals.

“Replacing the female sports category with a mixed-gender category has resulted in more female athletes losing opportunities, including medals, when competing against men,” the report said.