A city councilman from Providence, R.I. has resigned his leadership post as the council’s president pro tempore after he referred to a local transgender activist as an “it.”
Councilman Michael Correia (D-Ward 6) apologized for the comment in a Facebook post, saying that the language he used was “inappropriate and offensive.”
“As someone who has spent the greater part of my adult life serving my community and city, I regret that my words may have hurt anyone in the LGBTQIA community, my friends, family colleagues and constituents in that community,” Correia said the post. “I know that LGBTQIA people struggle, face discrimination and abuse and to think that I may have somehow contributed to that sentiment is unacceptable and for that I truly apologize.”
He also personally apologized to the activist he was caught on tape referencing — Justice Gaines, a Black trans woman — for “any hurt I may have inflicted on her.”
“Anyone who knows me knows that I may from time to time try to joke around, but I would do anything to help someone who needed it regardless of who they are or their station in life,” he added.
The recording is one of four that local CBS affiliate WPRI unearthed in October, all of which are part of an internal investigation into Correia that came about because of “multiple complaints,” according to the station.
In one of the recordings, Correia and some staffers are heard talking about Gaines, a longtime activist who frequently engages with the Council and who challenged former Councilmember Seth Yurdin in the 2018 Democratic primary for a seat representing parts of the city’s Fox Point and Downtown neighborhoods.
Following Yurdin’s resignation, Gaines considered running for the vacant seat in a special election in January 2020, but ultimately declined.
“So what do you call this person if he wins?” the staffer asks. “Councilperson?”
“An it,” answers Correia. “It.”
After the tape became public, Gaines, who works for the Providence Youth Student Movement and sat on the City Council’s working group to create the Providence Community-Police Relations Act in 2017, said she was “hurt and upset and sad,” adding that the comments about her breasts were “disgusting.”
“To have a city councilman mocking or making light of my pronouns or what being transgender means, when there are people in his ward who he represents who he’s supposed to be fighting for who are like me, who are trans women, who are nonbinary…that’s upsetting,” she said at the time.
“You don’t refer to people as ‘it,'” she added, noting that Correia and the council staffers continually misgender her throughout the recording — despite the Journal referring to her using female pronouns.
Shortly afterward, Correia, along with his attorney Artin Coloian, sat for an interview with WPRI and listened to the four excerpts from the recorded tapes. He said he didn’t believe he offended anyone, and expressed concerns that his civil rights had been violated because he had been recorded covertly without his permission.
But because Rhode Island has a one-party consent law — in which a person who is party to a conversation can surreptitiously record the conversation without having to seek others’ permission beforehand — people familiar with the recordings told WPRI they were obtained legally.
Patricia Socarras, a spokeswoman for the city, said that no one violated any city policies by making the recording. Providence Police and Rhode Island State Police said they’ve received no complaints or requests to investigate the recordings.
In his apology announcing his resignation as president pro tempore — but not his Council seat — Correia said he had met with Gaines and apologized to her directly.
“I understand these actions have broken trust between myself and the public and I am asking for the opportunity to earn back that trust,” he wrote.
On Tuesday, April 16, a federal appeals court voted to block a West Virginia law banning transgender student-athletes from competing on teams that align with their gender identity.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the ban, which was signed into law by Republican Gov. Jim Justice in April 2021, violates the rights of transgender students under Title IX, the federal statute that prohibits sex-based discrimination.
The law was challenged by a slew of civil rights and LGBTQ organizations on behalf of B.P.J., a 13-year-old transgender girl and middle school track and cross-country athlete who wishes to compete as a girl.
Billionaire X CEO Elon Musk said that gay people should have children to ensure the "continuance of civilization."
Musk recently posted a set of political positions he holds, which he claimed were "centrist." They read like a laundry list of conservative views, including opposition to unfettered immigration, large amounts of government spending, and opposition to allowing minors to access gender-affirming medical treatments.
"My positions are centrist," Musk wrote. "Secure borders. Safe & clean cities. Don't bankrupt America with spending. Racism against any race is wrong. No sterilization below age of consent."
Leo Varadkar, Ireland's youngest, first openly gay, and first multiracial prime minister, announced on March 20 that he is stepping down from office.
Varadkar resigned as leader of the Fine Gael political party and will resign as prime minister -- or taoiseach -- once a successor is named.
Standing on the steps of the Government Buildings in Dublin, the 45-year-old said he was stepping down for "personal and political" reasons, "but mainly political," reported The Guardian.
"I believe this government can be re-elected," Varadkar said. "I believe a new taoiseach will be better placed than me to achieve that -- to renew and strengthen the top team, to refocus our message and policies, and to drive implementation. After seven years in office, I am no longer the best person for that job."
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A city councilman from Providence, R.I. has resigned his leadership post as the council’s president pro tempore after he referred to a local transgender activist as an “it.”
Councilman Michael Correia (D-Ward 6) apologized for the comment in a Facebook post, saying that the language he used was “inappropriate and offensive.”
“As someone who has spent the greater part of my adult life serving my community and city, I regret that my words may have hurt anyone in the LGBTQIA community, my friends, family colleagues and constituents in that community,” Correia said the post. “I know that LGBTQIA people struggle, face discrimination and abuse and to think that I may have somehow contributed to that sentiment is unacceptable and for that I truly apologize.”
He also personally apologized to the activist he was caught on tape referencing — Justice Gaines, a Black trans woman — for “any hurt I may have inflicted on her.”
“Anyone who knows me knows that I may from time to time try to joke around, but I would do anything to help someone who needed it regardless of who they are or their station in life,” he added.
The recording is one of four that local CBS affiliate WPRI unearthed in October, all of which are part of an internal investigation into Correia that came about because of “multiple complaints,” according to the station.
In one of the recordings, Correia and some staffers are heard talking about Gaines, a longtime activist who frequently engages with the Council and who challenged former Councilmember Seth Yurdin in the 2018 Democratic primary for a seat representing parts of the city’s Fox Point and Downtown neighborhoods.
Following Yurdin’s resignation, Gaines considered running for the vacant seat in a special election in January 2020, but ultimately declined.
On the tape, a staffer is heard quoting a Providence Journal article saying Gaines was “considering taking another shot” at the Ward 1 seat.
“He’s still working on developing his breasts and everything,” Correia responds.
“What was his name before? Justin?” the staffer asks.
“Listen, you got to be careful,” Correia adds, mentioning that Gaines is involved with an activist group that includes lawyer Shannah Kurland.
See also: New Jersey teachers made homophobic comments about a colleague during a Zoom class
“So what do you call this person if he wins?” the staffer asks. “Councilperson?”
“An it,” answers Correia. “It.”
After the tape became public, Gaines, who works for the Providence Youth Student Movement and sat on the City Council’s working group to create the Providence Community-Police Relations Act in 2017, said she was “hurt and upset and sad,” adding that the comments about her breasts were “disgusting.”
“To have a city councilman mocking or making light of my pronouns or what being transgender means, when there are people in his ward who he represents who he’s supposed to be fighting for who are like me, who are trans women, who are nonbinary…that’s upsetting,” she said at the time.
“You don’t refer to people as ‘it,'” she added, noting that Correia and the council staffers continually misgender her throughout the recording — despite the Journal referring to her using female pronouns.
See also: West Virginia Republican who resigned over anti-gay comments has been re-elected
Shortly afterward, Correia, along with his attorney Artin Coloian, sat for an interview with WPRI and listened to the four excerpts from the recorded tapes. He said he didn’t believe he offended anyone, and expressed concerns that his civil rights had been violated because he had been recorded covertly without his permission.
But because Rhode Island has a one-party consent law — in which a person who is party to a conversation can surreptitiously record the conversation without having to seek others’ permission beforehand — people familiar with the recordings told WPRI they were obtained legally.
Patricia Socarras, a spokeswoman for the city, said that no one violated any city policies by making the recording. Providence Police and Rhode Island State Police said they’ve received no complaints or requests to investigate the recordings.
City Council President Sabina Matos (D-Ward 15) and Mayor Jorge Elorza had previously called on Correia to resign his leadership position, which he had been slated to hold onto until 2023.
In his apology announcing his resignation as president pro tempore — but not his Council seat — Correia said he had met with Gaines and apologized to her directly.
“I understand these actions have broken trust between myself and the public and I am asking for the opportunity to earn back that trust,” he wrote.
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