U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton on Friday sought to explain his remarks about transgender athletes, which drew condemnation from LGBTQ advocates and led to the removal of a top aid.

In a statement released Friday evening, Moulton said he “firmly holds my belief in the need for competitive women’s sports to limit participation by those with unfair physical advantages that come with being born male.”

LGBTQ rights groups D-6 early Friday. He criticized Moulton in the region for statements he made in a speech. Interview with the New York TimesHere he reflected on Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss to President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday.

The Salem lawmaker told the paper that he believes Democrats “spend too much time trying not to offend anyone, rather than being brutally honest about the challenges many Americans face.”

“I have two little girls, I don’t want them to get run over on the playing field by a boy or former male athlete, but as a Democrat I shouldn’t be afraid to say that,” he said.

Read more: Mass Rep. Seth Moulton slammed for transgender comments to New York Times

In a follow-up statement obtained by MassLive, Moulton sought to tamp down the outrage, adding that he was also a “strong supporter of the civil rights of all Americans, including transgender rights.” As always, I will fight for the rights and security of all citizens. “These two ideas are not mutually exclusive, and we may even disagree on them.”

But he added: “There are many people screaming from far-left corners of social media who believe I have failed the unspoken purity test of the Democratic Party.”

Democrats “did not lose the 2024 election because of any transgender person or issue. “We lost in part because we are shaming and belittling the ideas that too many voters have, and that needs to stop,” he concluded. “Let’s have these discussions now, chart a new strategy for our party as our current strategy has failed, and then unite to oppose the Trump agenda wherever it jeopardizes American values.”

After the initial story was published, Moulton’s campaign manager, Mark Chilliak, who also serves as director of the “Serve America” ​​political committee, confirmed it. Boston Globe He said he resigned.

One expressionLGBTQ rights group MassEquality said Moulton’s remarks “increased our community’s sense of vulnerability.”

“The congressman’s reference to transgender athletes as ‘men or ex-men’ is both harmful and factually inaccurate,” MassEquality said. “These statements contribute to the ongoing stigmatization of transgender people, particularly transgender women and girls, in sports.”

MassLive Reporter Ryan Mancini contributed to this story.