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Nonbinary Worcester City Councilor takes leave of absence, cites transphobia including a colleague calling them ‘it’
Nguyen, the first nonbinary person elected to public office in the state, will take a month off "to prioritize (their) mental and emotional safety."
A nonbinary Worcester City Councilor is taking a “hiatus,” citing discrimination and transphobia including being publicly misgendered and privately referred to as “it” by fellow members of the council, according to the councilor.
Thu Nguyen, the first nonbinary person to be elected to any public office in Massachusetts, has served as an at-large councilor since 2022. In a statement Wednesday, they accused Mayor Joseph Petty and At-Large Councilor Kathleen Toomey of misgendering them “publicly on the council floor” and said Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson “has been referring to (them) as ‘it’ multiple times.”
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“These hateful acts are unbecoming of a legislative body whose duty is to serve our communities and to honor and enforce anti-discrimination laws,” Nguyen wrote in a public statement.
Mero-Carlson, said in a statement that she doesn’t remember making “the statements in question,” but acknowledged “it was a challenging and emotional week where difficult conversations took place.”
“These claims, however, misrepresent my character, my record, and the values I have consistently upheld,” Mero-Carlson wrote. “It is deeply troubling that Councilor Nguyen has chosen to distort the narrative and weaponize these accusations for political purposes, rather than engaging in constructive dialogue that serves the best interests of Worcester’s residents.”
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She accused Nguyen of “sowing chaos and division” in a response Wednesday and pointed out the nonbinary councilor’s spotty attendance record at council meetings. She said Nguyen, who supported her opponent in the previous election, has the lowest record of any councilor.
During Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, the body addressed orders to restrict members from Zooming in and to establish conduct rules for members. Nguyen, who was participating remotely, described the misgendering against them, said they are legally allowed to Zoom in through March, and called both measures targeted.
“I really really wished I felt safe enough to show up on the council floor, but I don’t due to this level of dehumanization of my being,” Nguyen said. “I know, as someone with many marginalized intersecting identities, City Hall is not safe, welcoming nor accessible to everyone.”
In a statement, Petty said Nguyen is referring to a 2022 incident where he “corrected the mistake and apologized.” However, he said, their concerns are coming from a mandate to require in-person attendance.
“Councilor Nguyen has missed half of the Traffic and Parking subcommittee meetings and has not held a meeting for the Public Service and Transportation subcommittee that they chair,” Petty wrote. “Failing to participate in these essential responsibilities is unacceptable.”
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Toomey said on X that her misgendering of Nguyen, most likely multiple times, was an “honest error” and that she had apologized.
“There has never been any intentional or consistent misgendering,” Toomey wrote. “I have been mindful to address the Councilor respectfully in the manner in which they identify over the past three years no differently or less respectfully than I address any of our colleagues.”
Councilor Etel Haxhiaj said she and Nguyen became aware of what Haxhiaj described a Mero-Carlson’s “violent and hateful language” against Nguyen.
“Misgendering anyone as a weapon is unacceptable human behavior,” Haxhiaj wrote. “The ongoing undercurrent and now public disrespect and refusal to respect Councilor Nguyen’s gender identity needs to end.”
Nguyen said Wednesday they had filed a complaint with Worcester’s Executive Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The office did not return a request for comment Wednesday.
“My filing of a complaint’s aim is to hold electeds accountable to moral and legal standards during a vulnerable time of crisis for the LGBTQ+ community,” referring to President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming presidency, Nguyen wrote.
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Nguyen said they will take a month off to focus on their mental and emotional health and safety and to “forge a path to address this matter.”
“I have always said for me it’s not just about identity politics,” they wrote. “Making history as the first is one thing, what you do with it is another. I hope by speaking up against transphobia and hate, many of you will join me in pushing for a political reimagination of a government that holistically cares and serves everyone which rightfully includes the LGBTQ+ community.”
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