Local Democrat attacks Joe Biden for supporting “the mutilation of kids” in hateful rant

A Philadelphia Democrat is under fire for making a series of anti-LGBTQ+ comments and denigrating his own party for supporting LGBTQ+ rights – all while running against gay incumbent state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D) for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He even attacked his party’s leader, President Joe Biden, for supporting transgender rights.

Audio obtained by the Philadelphia Inquirer reveals North Philadelphia’s 47th ward leader, Lewis Nash Sr., spouting Republican anti-LGBTQ+ talking points at an August ward meeting.

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The Inquirer stated that Nash claimed public officials are pressuring kids to obtain gender-affirming surgery and that teachers should not be allowed to tell kids that “they got two mommies.” He also said folks should think about voting for the Republican mayoral nominee and avoid voting for a president who supports “the mutilation of kids.” He also said elected leaders have no right to tell his child to “go have an abortion without my permission.”

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Nash told the publication his words had been “misinterpreted” and claimed Kenyatta leaked the audio to destroy him. Nash also said he was not referring to Joe Biden at the meeting and emphasized his support for the current president.

He claimed he is not anti-LGBTQ+ and was simply trying to say that parents deserve a say in the health care of their children – something Democrats absolutely support as Republicans seek to outlaw a parent’s right to choose if their child should receive gender-affirming care or not.

He then proceeded to refer to being LGBTQ+ as an “alternative lifestyle.”

“They want to use the card that I don’t have love for every single person that I represent, and that’s hurting me,” Nash said. “I’ve been a pastor for 24 years, and we all have individuals in our families that chose an alternative lifestyle, and I never discriminated against them.”

Kenyatta also denied any role in the scandal, saying he had “zero role in orchestrating the hate, bigotry, and misogyny that flows so freely from his mouth.”

In a series of tweets, Kenyatta called Nash “wholly out of touch with the values of the Democratic party” and emphasized that “the hatred, bigotry, homophobia, and transphobia displayed my opponent in this leaked audio — has ZERO PLACE in the Democratic Party.”

Kenyatta also called out Nash for referring to being LGBTQ+ as “alternative.”

“Even in his ‘clean up’ he continues to be deeply out of step with reality. LGBTQ people aren’t living ‘alternative lifestyles’ we are living authentically. Every Pennsylvanian (and person for that matter) deserves to be treated with respect, no matter who they are or love.”

Kenyatta is currently running for reelection to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives while also running for auditor general. He has long been considered a rising star in the Democratic party. In a landslide victory in 2018, he became the first LGBTQ+ person of color to be elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly at the age of 28. Chronicled in a short documentary called Going Forward, Kenyatta’s intense passion and commitment to change has captivated many.

At the 2020 Democratic National Convention, he was one of 17 rising star Democrats to deliver the keynote address and one of the first three out LGBTQ+ people to ever do so.