Worcester City Councilor Taking Hiatus, Alleging LGBTQ+ Discrimination

WORCESTER, MA - Worcester City Councilor At-Large Thu Nguyen, the first openly nonbinary elected person in Massachusetts, will be taking a monthlong hiatus from council.

In a statement issued on Instagram, Nguyen said they made the decision due to transphobia, discrimination and toxicity within the council culture.

They said that they filed a complaint to the Executive Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion about their experiences with transphobia and discrimination over the past three years. They also alleged being misgendered by Mayor Joseph Petty and Councilor At-Large Kathleen Toomey, and that District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson had referred to them as "it" multiple times.

The mayor's office, Toomey and Mero-Carlson did not immediately respond to requests to comment.

"I have formally requested for the [Worcester's chief equity officer] to open an immediate investigation and create an action plan to address this matter," Nguyen said in a statement shared to Facebook. "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, a graduate of Clark University, ran their 2021 campagin on a platform of investing in community-based programs, after-school activities and youth jobs.

Following endorsements from a number of progressive organizations, they placed fourth among 10 candidates in November elections. They became the first Southeast Asian member in the history of Massachusetts.

"Many turn to Massachusetts, one of the progressive LGBTQ+ supporting states as a safe haven," Nguyen said in their statement. "And yet here in Worcester, the second largest city in Massachusetts and New England, or commitment and safety is tainted by government leadership that does not hold the same values and care for the dignity and humanity of the LGBTQ+ community members."