Vermont Democrats who disrupted Capitol event should be punished, GOP says
Green Mountain Republicans are calling for the discipline or resignation of two Democrats who they claim were involved in coordinating a disruptive protest inside the State House. The protest occurred during a meeting held by the Vermont Family Alliance for “Detrans Awareness Day.” Vermont Republican Party Chair Paul Dame stated that state Reps. Mari Cordes and Jubilee McGill played an active role in the disruption, which garnered national attention.
Video footage from the Vermont Daily Chronicle showed individuals dressed in women’s clothing singing loudly, while others shouted to drown out the speaker from the Vermont Family Alliance. Dame criticized the intentional recruitment of disrupters, stating that it crossed a line.
The disruption was met with backlash from some Democrats in Montpelier, who expressed interest in working across the aisle. However, Dame noted that many Democrats are not focused on governance for everyone. The Vermont Republican Party highlighted a Facebook post from a “Middlebury Pride” page that called for a gathering to counter alleged transphobic views.
The disrupted meeting aimed to provide resources for individuals who had detransitioned from their transgender identities and were experiencing challenges as a result. McGill posted a comment on the Facebook event page, expressing concern about disruptions during the meeting.
Despite requests for comment, McGill and Cordes did not respond to inquiries. Dame described their actions as a deliberate attempt to sabotage a peaceful meeting and called on House Speaker Jill Krowinski to consider disciplinary action.
While some criticized the handling of the situation by Sergeant-at-Arms Agatha Kessler, Dame commended her for her responsible actions. The Democratic caucus was scheduled to use the room after the Detrans Awareness Day event, leading to the clearance of both groups.
In a joint statement, Senate Majority Leader Kesha Ram Hinsdale and House Majority Leader Lori Houghton reaffirmed their commitment to the rights and freedoms of all Vermonters. They emphasized the importance of respecting personal health decisions and gender identity without political interference.
McGuinness, the speaker at the disrupted event, demanded an apology from Houghton and Hinsdale for mischaracterizing the gathering as an attack on the transgender community. Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, did not provide a response to requests for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Peter Pinedo contributed to this report. Charles Creitz, a reporter for Fox News Digital, covers media, politics, and culture. He joined Fox News in 2013 and holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Temple University. For story tips, contact charles.creitz@fox.com.
