New York’s Blake Gendebien, Democratic candidate for Congressional District 21, is facing a tough fight against Republican Anthony Constantino.
But in his admirable efforts to try to turn the seat blue, Gendebien has reinforced the very same anti-trans myths and rhetoric that are being used to strip transgender children of equal rights.
In a recent ad released by the campaign, Gendebien said, “I served on the school board and coached J.V. basketball. Keeping kids safe was my job, and I’ve always been clear: Boys shouldn’t play on girls’ sports teams.”
“The thing is, in 20 years raising a family here, I haven’t heard this issue come up, not once,” Gendebien continues. “But internet trolls like Anthony Constantino use it to rile people up. His scare tactics forced the school into lockdown. That doesn’t keep our kids safe. I’m Blake Gendebien and I approve this message.”
The commercial seems to refer to a Sept. 2025 incident wherein Constantino doxxed a local educator for overseeing an LGBT student organization. He accused the school of promoting “an transgender indoctrination group” [sic]. Violent threats and calls began pouring in, and a local high school went into lockdown “in response to my social media posts,” as Constantino put it on Facebook.
“This is an egregious act of terrorism against students and parents,” he continued, in reference to the school’s lockdown announcement. “It’s designed to silence criticism.”
What remains unclear is why Gendebien chose to invoke an anti-trans dog whistle, “boys in girls sports.” It wasn’t enough to oppose equal rights for trans kids; he also apparently felt the need to feed into right-wing narratives that paint trans people, and especially transgender women and girls, as predators infiltrating women’s spaces.
This corresponds with a modest, but growing, trend: Democrats are capitalizing on anti-trans hysteria, or otherwise leaning into Republican narratives on so-called culture war issues. The line about “boys in girls’ sports” has appeared in a Marcy Kaptur ad decrying “gender ideology,” was spewed by Iowa’s Rob Sand on the gubernatorial campaign trail, and was touted in Rep. Seth Moulton’s failed Senate bid in Massachusetts. This is on top of the wave of anti-trans ads that Republican strategists and megadonors like Elon Musk have weaponized this campaign cycle.
Constantino, who owns a highly lucrative sticker business, is also being sued for defamation by multiple GOP members. He baselessly accused one official of being a serial drunk driver and another of attempted murder, Politico reports.
New York’s 21st Congressional District is comprised of a community of over 770,000 people. It is one of the largest geographical districts in the country, and contains vast swaths of rural farmland plus the Adirondack Park.
In recent years, the 21st Congressional District has been best known as the constituency of Rep. Elise Stefanik, who is not seeking re-election. She had been announced as Trump’s pick for the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, but he suddenly reneged and gave the position to Rep. Mike Waltz.
You can see the full ad below.
https://host2.adimpact.com/admo/viewer/c7ae4437-d15e-466d-81c2-a4d4a21314fb
Such a disheartening trend. Sacrificing our kids' safety and well-being is neither ethical nor progressive.
I do wish they would stop throwing 1% of the population under the school bus!!!!!!!