Suozzi says Democrats lost votes for supporting ‘biological boys’ playing on girls’ sports teams
Fresh off his reelection for the 3rd Congressional District on Long Island, Rep. Tom Suozzi is advising Democrats against “pandering to the far left” or trying to be “politically correct” – while parroting a common Republican talking point used to fight against transgender protections.
In comments to The New York Times on Wednesday, Suozzi laid the blame for Donald Trump’s victory at the feet of left-wing activists who have fought for trans rights. “I don’t want to discriminate against anybody, but I don’t think biological boys should be playing in girls’ sports,” he said, adding that “Democrats should be saying this.”
On Thursday, Suozzi doubled down, suggesting that Democrats’ acceptance of trans girls playing on girls’ sports teams and embrace of other progressive causes had alienated voters. “While some Democrats effectively responded to Republican's claims of chaos at the Southern border, we still ceded too much ground to the Republicans on an issue we could have won,” he said. “And we failed as a party to respond to the Republican weaponization of anarchy on college campuses, defund the police, biological boys playing in girls' sports, and a general attack on traditional values.”
An LGBTQ+ legislator called Suozzi’s comments “gross,” and his remarks were met with intense backlash from LGBTQ+ activists. “I am not surprised that a mediocre Democrat is quick to capitulate, instead of doubling down on their defense for trans people as a vulnerable community,” said Elisa Crespo, executive director of the New Pride Agenda. “The notion that Democrats are doing poorly because they offer even lackluster support for trans people is not only insulting, but dangerous rhetoric coming from a sitting Congressmember.” She said that she hopes his LGBTQ+ constituents “remember these remarks in 2026, or when he decides to come marching in the next Pride parade.”
Allen Roskoff, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, used even stronger language, calling Suozzi’s comments "disgraceful, bigoted and dangerous.” “Fuck him for saying that,” Roskoff told City & State, adding that he intended to call Suozzi about the comments. “People should not be bullying such a small minority of the population, and it's bullying of transgender youth, and it's a Republican talking point full of hate,” he said. Roskoff added that in his opinion, the future of the Democratic Party lies with progressives in the mold of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Democratic consultant Matthew Albert told City & State that comments like Suozzi’s aren’t helpful in the aftermath of the election. “Inflation and economic discontent were the top issues in the election. That seems quite clear,” Albert said. “Whatever kind of Democrat you are, that's the main point. Using rhetoric from the right-wing playbook only sets us back further.”
Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who wouldn’t opine directly on Suozzi’s comments, also cautioned against infighting among Democrats. “I’m not going to go there because I am not going to pit one group against the other,” she told City & State while at Somos. “This is how Republicans win, by dividing our communities and dividing our base.”Transgender protections, and in particular transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports, has become a wedge issue for conservatives, including in New York. Republicans campaigned aggressively against the state Equal Rights Amendment that was on the ballot this past election, with much of their messaging focused on the idea of protecting the integrity of girls’ sports and women’s rights. The state already has fairly broad protections for trans youth, who have the right to play on sports teams that align with their gender.
Prop 1 passed by an overwhelming margin on election night, outpacing both Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the state, according to preliminary election results. A spokesperson for Suozzi did not answer when asked whether he voted in favor of the amendment. Laura Gillen, who won a congressional district bordering Suozzi’s, ignored questions from reporters about the amendment after casting her ballot.
In Suozzi’s own backyard, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and the Republican-controlled county legislature enacted a de facto ban on trans female athletes from competing on women’s teams that make use of county facilities. Under the ban, which began as an executive order and was later passed into law by the county legislature, women’s teams can only be made up of cisgender women. Blakeman defended the ban, by saying that trans women and girls could still play on co-ed teams.
Both the initial executive order, which was overturned in court, and the county law, which is currently being challenged, drew swift condemnation from Democrats, including state Attorney General Letitia James and Gov. Kathy Hochul. In a conversation with City & State in September, Suozzi also criticized the ban. “I thought that was completely irresponsible,” he said, citing the fact that Blakeman could not point to an instance in Nassau when issues have arisen from trans athletes playing on girls’ sports teams. At the time, Suozzi called Blakeman’s focus on the issue a “distraction” from more pressing issues facing the county – not dissimilar to the way he is now telling Democrats not to focus on the issue of trans rights.
This would not be the first time that Suozzi has found himself in hot water with the LGBTQ+ community. While running for governor in 2022, he faced significant criticism for saying that Florida’s infamous “don’t say gay” law was reasonable. Despite the criticism, Suozzi has received a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign for every session he's been in Congress.