Texas Democrat Colin Allred relies on transphobia to target Ted Cruz

A Texas Democratically Congressman runs to unseat his seat republican US Senator Ted Cruz has taken up right-wing extremist statements on the subject of gender identity in a new ad, raising eyebrows, including among the Human Rights Campaignthe largest in the country LGBTQ+ Civil rights group that endorsed him earlier this year. Rep. Colin Allred, a long-time supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, finds himself on the defensive as Cruz’s campaign bombards Texas voters with attack ads about fear of people Transgender People, especially athletes.

Cruz’s campaign focused heavily on transgender participation in youth sports and aired several attack ads in prime time, including at NFL games Houston Chronicle Reports. These ads do not directly target transgender youth and instead accuse Allred of supporting policies that undermine fairness in sports, particularly for cisgender women. In a super PAC Advertisementa hulking figure in an “Allred” jersey attacks a young girl on a soccer field, reinforcing the narrative that his support for inclusive policies is harming women in sports.

On Friday, Allred released an ad attempting to blunt the impact of Cruz’s messages by adopting more conservative talking points. “I am a father. I am also one Christian. My faith has taught me that all children are children of God,” Allred says in the ad. “So let me clarify. I don’t want boys playing girls’ sports or any of that ridiculous stuff Ted Cruz says.”

This rhetoric has raised concerns among LGBTQ+ advocates who expected more from Allred. Republicans continually delegitimize transgender people by claiming that transgender girls are boys pretending to be girls.

Allred’s ad sparked outrage among LGBTQ+ activists. Erin Reed, an award-winning transgender journalist, posted on X (formerly). Twitter), “Democratic candidate Colin Allred is the first Democratic candidate to capitulate to anti-trans advertising and target trans people through anti-trans advertising. Very short-sighted and a bitter betrayal to his potential future LGBTQ voters.”

Ari Dlaufen, LGBTQ program director at Media Matters for America, was equally frustrated, writing sarcastically, “I’m so glad he’s burning all the money for this.” She added, “The trans people I know (myself included!) are very, very nervous that the Democrats will take the path they are taking given the pressure they are under.” [Britain’s] Work [Party] on trans rights. I don’t think that’s going to happen, but it feels like a lot of campaign reporters are trying to manifest that outcome right now.”

A spokesman for the HRC, which endorsed Allred earlier this year, expressed disappointment and called on the congressman to clarify his position. “Texans have been subjected to the hate and lies of Ted Cruz for too many years. They are ready to turn the tide,” said HRC national press secretary Brandon Wolf The lawyer. “Congressman Allred needs to clarify his comments in this ad. They simply don’t match what we know about his past. He has been supporting our community for years and is committed to protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination. Texans deserve to finally have a leader who values ​​equality and freedom.”

In another ad, Cruz’s campaign accuses Allred of supporting “taxpayer-funded gender reassignment surgeries” for military personnel and allowing “boys in girls’ sports.”

Allred, a former NFL linebacker who represents the Dallas area in Congress, is running a tough campaign against Cruz, who has held his Senate seat for two terms. Even though Texas is a red state, polls suggest the race is tightening. According to a recent Oct. 3-7 Marist College poll, Cruz leads Allred by a narrow 5-point margin among likely voters, with Cruz at 51 percent and Allred at 46 percent. after to FiveThirtyEight.com.

Jeff Sharlet, a journalist and author known for his investigative work on the Christian right and far-right movements, also weighed in on the controversy. Sharlet wrote on X: “Triangulate? Secure. Moderate? You know your constituents, @collinallredtx. But this – invoking faith to attack children, to call yourself a father – is nonsense. I am the proud father of a trans child, Allred. Would you like to talk to me about your “thoughts” about my child and his peers? And any Democrat who wants to tell me that my child or others are expendable to hold the Senate… so that Democrats can do the far right’s unconstitutional hate work to do so – go ahead and block me.”

Sharlet’s voice adds to growing criticism from progressive circles, with many viewing Allred’s comments as a betrayal of the values ​​he has long espoused. Allred is a supporter of measures such as the Equality Act, which aims to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Miriam Laeky, director of government affairs at Equality Texas, criticized Cruz’s tactics while defending Allred’s broader record on LGBTQ+ rights. “LGBTQIA+ Texans are under attack, and we are working on issues facing queer Texans through campaigns on and off the ballot,” Laeky said The lawyer in a statement. “Allred’s history in Congress, including his support of the Equality Act, shows that he believes in a level playing field for all Texans – trans Texans should not be marginalized. Women are stronger than Ted Cruz believes. Why is the weakest man in the Senate speaking for the strong women of Texas?”

Cruz’s use of anti-transgender rhetoric mirrors Republican strategies in other contests across the country. According to a New York Times Republicans have spent more than $65 million on television ads focused on transgender issues in more than a dozen battleground states, according to one analysis.

In one interview With Spectrum News in September, Allred addressed the attacks and defended his longstanding support for LGBTQ+ rights. “What I have supported is basic protections for people based on their sexual identity or who they love or how they identify, and trying to make sure they are not discriminated against,” he said. “In the Texas I believe in and grew up in, we want to leave people alone more than anything, and that’s all we do — the same protections that exist for race, national origin, gender, etc. to extend to… people based on their sexual identity.

A spokesman for Allred presided The lawyer but did not respond to questions on the congressman’s press release announcing the ad.

Check out the ad for which Allred came under fire below.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include Jeff Sharlet’s comments on X.