Since the election, many pundits have asserted that Democrats lost because they have become the party of the “woke” elite. To regain political power, some have suggested that Democrats must abandon “woke” causes like transgender rights. In particular, Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton, a Democrat, said on Nov. 7 that his party spent “too much time trying not to offend anyone” and that he wouldn’t want his daughters playing sports with a “male or formerly male athlete.”
At Princeton—perhaps a perfect representation of the liberal elite Americans have come to loathe—this argument has had some resonance. In a Nov. 12 op-ed, my colleague Julianna Lee even praised Moulton’s comments as accurately pointing out the problem with liberal ideology on campus.
However, as we continue to discuss the election here at Princeton, we must not turn our backs on causes like transgender rights as a solution to this disconnect with voters. Abandoning trans rights not only ignores real economic issues and fails to bring any meaningful political capital to the Democratic Party, but also poses damaging ramifications for marginalized communities at Princeton and across the U.S. as a whole. In light of this national discourse, Princeton must publicly express its support for transgender rights in alignment with its institutional values.
From a strategic standpoint alone, Democrats’ yielding to right-wing rhetoric surrounding trans women is nonsensical. Take a situation that unfolded in the halls of Capitol Hill 2 weeks ago. Rep. Nancy Mace launched a campaign to bar trans women from womens’ restrooms, targeting freshman congresswoman Rep. Sarah McBride, the country’s first-ever trans representative. Ultimately, as Republicans waged a public war over the issue, McBride resigned herself to the issue.
“I’m not here to fight about bathrooms,” she wrote in a statement. “This effort to distract from the real issues facing this country hasn’t distracted me over the last several days.”
While McBride’s situation reflects a sad reality and tough bind transgender people face in navigating attacks on their identities, especially in professional settings, Democrats missed an powerful opportunity to stand up for trans rights.
In an election where civil rights wasn’t even among the top five issues for American voters, it’s silly to think that Democrats would have gained any voters by being any more transphobic. Furthermore, studies indicate that the majority of voters are more likely to back a candidate who supports transgender rights. Even as transphobia remains a persistent issue in America, there’s no direct evidence that Democrats’ stance on “woke” social issues is what sank their campaign.
After all, Republicans’ cultural and social positions weren’t particularly popular in this election, either. Transgender rights may be relatively unpopular, but so are Republicans’ stances on abortion, healthcare, social security, and a myriad of other issues. Yet, the party still won — because they effectively convinced voters that they’ll make a difference on the issues that voters prioritize: the economy and inflation. Democrats should prioritize fixing their messaging and policy accordingly, but dismissing trans rights is not the correct way to do so.
It should also go without saying that so-called “cultural” social issues are incredibly important in themselves. The day after the election, LGBTQ+ support groups received an immediate spike in calls. Trump plans to do everything in his power to use the federal government to deny trans people healthcare and ban them from the military. Not only is it politically useless to play into Republican talking points and cast queer issues as “elite” concerns — it’s inaccurate and damaging.
And we must not think these issues don’t affect us within the “liberal haven” of our university. As my colleague Charlie Yale pointed out in September, over 43 percent of Princeton first-years support banning transgender women from women’s sports, compared to 28 percent who do not. If both mainstream political parties became anti-transgender, this situation could further worsen. Even within the Orange Bubble, we are not immune to the political winds of the nation.
Thus, we have a vital role to play in shaping the Democratic Party’s priorities list. The University’s policy of “institutional restraint” fundamentally enables it to comment on issues that relate to institutional values, like “the fair and equal treatment of all persons.” If the University means to truly protect the equitable treatment of all people at Princeton and beyond, it must take an official stance against transphobic rhetoric.
With the increasingly anti-trans stances of the incoming Trump administration, this is especially relevant. Voices close to Trump like right-wing activist Christopher Rufo are also suggesting he withhold funds from public and private universities until they end diversity programs. If the Trump administration follows through with this attack, Princeton must not falter.
And while we must acknowledge the legitimate cultural divide between elite institutions and the average American, we cannot abandon our values while doing so. Instead, given the Democrats’ struggles in the election, it’s vital that we push them to embrace populist, anti-corporate policies which have proved popular time and time again, and make issues of the working class the centerpiece of their agenda. Those policies can coexist with ones that fight for marginalized groups, and voters will realize it.
For those of us that were already dissatisfied with the Democratic Party—myself included—these recent developments provide us with the crucial incentive to act. Before the election, I wrote a piece imploring progressive Princetonians to vote for Harris despite her faults. Now, with Democrats threatening to move backward even more, it is time to channel that energy into change that will reorient the party toward the working class without abandoning the most vulnerable among us. After all, when 2028 rolls around, we don’t want to be left having to make an unideal choice once again.
Shane McCauley (he/him) is a first-year contributing Opinion writer from Boston, MA intending to major in the social sciences. He can be reached at sm8000[at]princeton.edu.
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