Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty is defending his conduct following General Counsel Thu Nguyen’s allegations of gender misrepresentation and creating a toxic workplace culture.
Nguyen announced on January 15 that they would take a one-month break from the council, citing transphobia and a toxic culture.
Nguyen, who is the council’s first non-binary and Southeast Asian American member, wrote that Petty had publicly misgendered them on the council. Nguyen shared a video with MassLive of a March 15, 2022 meeting where Petty misinterpreted the adviser when Petty thanked Nguyen.
In a statement released overnight Jan. 15, Petty said that once he was made aware of the error, he quickly corrected and apologized.
“During my 13 years as mayor, I have always tried to treat each councilman with the dignity and respect they deserve,” Petty said in the statement. “I would never say anything harmful, and I strongly believe that everyone deserves the dignity of having their identity honored and respected.”
Petty suggested in his statement that another reason for Nguyen’s concerns was the decision to mandate in-person attendance at city hall and subcommittee hearings. Nguyen participated remotely in the last city council meeting on Jan. 14.
“I will make no apologies for taking responsibility for the responsibilities entrusted to us by the people we serve,” Petty said in the statement. “Being available, accessible and engaged is a core expectation of our roles, and is critical to the success of the city.”
Petty said he also shared Nguyen’s concern about the need for a safe environment.
“I will continue working with the City Council and [Worcester Police Department] to guarantee the safety of all councilors during public meetings”. Petty said. “We are in a time of uncertainty, where members of the LGBTQIA+ community face real fears and challenges simply by being themselves.”
In her Jan. 15 statement, Nguyen also accused General Counsel Kathleen Toomey of misrepresenting them and accused District 2 Councilwoman Candy Mero-Carlson of referring to them as “it” several times
In a post on X on Wednesday, Toomey he wrote that he made an “honest mistake” in targeting Nguyen.
“I made an honest mistake in addressing the counselor and I may have done so a few times, for which I apologized,” Toomey wrote. “I have made it a point to respectfully address the counselor in the manner in which they have identified themselves over the past three years, no differently and no less respectfully than I address any of our peers.”
In response to the allegations against her, Mero-Carlson wrote in a post that Nguyen’s claims “misrepresent” her character, record and values.
In a statement shared by the Talk of the Commonwealth radio program to XMero-Carlson said Nguyen “has chosen to distort the narrative and weaponize these allegations for political purposes, rather than engage in a constructive dialogue that serves the best interests of Worcester residents.”
The shake-up at the town hall has also elicited other responses from the councillors.
After Nguyen’s statement, District 5 Councilwoman Etel Haxhiaj issued a statement X asking those who mistreated Nguyen to apologize and to hold Councilman Mero-Carlson accountable for his alleged actions.
“City councilors proclaim that hate has no home in Worcester,” Haxhiaj wrote. “I agree. Hate should have no home in city hall and neither should Worcester City Council.”
City Council Vice President and General Counsel Khrystian King said in a statement that Nguyen’s allegations are “serious.”
“As vice president, I envision a brighter future for trans and gender non-conforming people, both in the chambers of City Hall and in the community at large,” King wrote. “As public officials, we are called to be equally committed to fostering a civic environment that protects our members and participants from any appearance of political hostility while denouncing any behavior that contributes to dehumanization or alteration.”
Ngyuen confirmed to MassLive that they would be taking a month-long hiatus to prioritize their emotional and mental safety while taking the time to “forge a path to address this matter.”