Fresh off his re-election to Long Island’s 3rd Congressional District, Rep. Tom Suozzi advises Democrats against “turning to the far left” or trying to be “politically correct” – while also parroting a common Republican talking point used in the fight against transgender protection.

In an op-ed to The New York Times on Wednesday, Suozzi blamed Donald Trump’s victory on left-wing activists who fought for transgender rights. “I don’t want to discriminate against anyone, but I don’t think biological boys should play in girls’ sports,” he said, adding: “Democrats should say that.”

On Thursday, Suozzi doubled down on his statement, suggesting that Democrats’ embrace of trans girls playing on girls’ sports teams and support of other progressive causes had angered voters. “While some Democrats responded effectively to Republican claims of chaos at the southern border, we still ceded too much ground to Republicans on an issue we could have won,” he said. “And we have failed as a party to respond to the Republican weaponization of anarchy on college campuses, defunding the police, running biological boys in girls’ sports and a general assault on traditional values.”

An LGBTQ+ lawmaker called Suozzi’s comments “disgusting,” and his comments were met with strong backlash from LGBTQ+ activists. “I am not surprised that a mediocre Democrat would quickly capitulate rather than step up his defense of transgender people as a vulnerable community,” said Elisa Crespo, executive director of the New Pride Agenda. “The idea that Democrats are doing poorly because they offer little support to transgender people is not only insulting, but also dangerous rhetoric from a sitting congressman.” She said she hopes his LGBTQ+ voters “will join in.” remember these comments in 2026, or when he decides to march in the next Pride parade.”

Allen Roskoff, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, was even harsher, calling Suozzi’s comments “disgraceful, bigoted and dangerous.” “Fuck him for saying that,” Roskoff told City & State, adding that he wanted to call Suozzi about the comments. “People shouldn’t bully such a small minority of the population, and that’s bullying transgender youth, and it’s a Republican talking point full of hate,” Roskoff said, adding that he believes the future of the Democratic Party is at stake Progressives like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and US Senator Bernie like Sanders.

Democratic consultant Matthew Albert told City & State that comments like Suozzi’s are not helpful after the election. “Inflation and economic discontent were the main issues in the election. That seems very clear,” Albert said. “Whatever kind of Democrat you are, that’s the main point. Using rhetoric from the right-wing playbook will only set us back further.”

Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who declined to comment directly on Suozzi’s comments, also warned of infighting among Democrats. “I won’t go there because I won’t pit one group against the other,” she told City & State during her stay in Somos. “This is how Republicans win by dividing our communities and dividing our base.” Protecting transgender people, and particularly the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, has become a key issue for conservatives, including in New York. Republicans campaigned aggressively against the state’s Equal Rights Amendment, which was on the ballot in the last election. Much of their messaging focused on the idea of ​​protecting the integrity of girls’ sports and women’s rights. The state already has fairly comprehensive protections for transgender youth, who have the right to play on sports teams that correspond to their gender.

According to preliminary election results, Prop 1 passed overwhelmingly on election night, surpassing both Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the state. A spokesman for Suozzi did not respond to a question about whether he voted for the change. Laura Gillen, who won a congressional district bordering Suozzi, ignored questions from reporters about the amendment after she cast her vote.

In Suozzi’s own backyard, Nassau County Gov. Bruce Blakeman and the Republican-controlled county legislature enacted a de facto ban on trans athletes from competing on women’s teams that use county facilities. Under the ban, which began as an executive order and was later enacted by the county legislature, women’s teams can only consist of cisgender women. Blakeman defended the ban by saying trans women and girls could still play on co-ed teams.

Both the original ordinance, which was overturned in court, and the county law, which is currently under challenge, were quickly condemned by Democrats, including Attorney General Letitia James and Gov. Kathy Hochul. Speaking to City & State in September, Suozzi also criticized the ban. “I thought it was completely irresponsible,” he said, noting that Blakeman could not point to a case in Nassau where there were issues with trans athletes playing on girls’ sports teams. At the time, Suozzi called Blakeman’s focus on the issue a “distraction” from the county’s more pressing issues — not unlike the way he now tells Democrats not to focus on the issue of trans rights.

It wouldn’t be the first time that Suozzi has come into conflict with the LGBTQ+ community. When he ran for governor in 2022, he faced intense criticism for saying Florida’s infamous “Don’t Say Gay” law was common sense. Despite the criticism, Suozzi received a 100 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign in each of his congressional sessions. He has not been rated since his re-election in February.