Metro Weekly

North Carolina Democrat apologizes after calling transgender opponent a man

“I referred to you using an incorrect gender pronoun. That was inaccurate and offensive, and not the way that I would conduct myself as chair of the North Carolina Democratic party.”

PatsyKeever
Patsy Keever, vice chair the North Carolina Democratic Party

 

Patsy Keever, vice chair of North Carolina’s Democratic Party, in a post to her Facebook page after she called her opponent for chair of the party, Janice Covington, a man at a public forum, New York Daily News reports.

Covington, who is transgender, was listing the various groups she represented as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2012, according to QNotes. “I ran as a senior citizen. I ran as a disabled vet. I ran as a woman. I ran as LGBT,” Covington told the forum. “And what did I leave out? There’s one more.”

Keever cut in with “a man,” to which Covington retorted, “There ain’t no man left in here, honey.” In a statement to QNotes, Covington called it, “a bigoted slur,” adding, “I am a proud transgender woman and for me to be violated in this way at a public forum by a leader of the party was completely out of line.”

Image Credit: North Carolina Democratic Party

Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism

These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!