Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has become the second Democratic candidate this week to release an ad responding to the GOPs transphobic attacks an ominous turn for trans advocates who worry Democrats may be starting to throw trans rights under the bus. Browns ad is a response to a smear campaign from the Ohio Republican PAC Senate Leadership Fund, which has spent millions of dollars on ads attacking trans people. One ad says Brown voted multiple times to allow transgender biological males in womens sports and supported allowing minor children to receive sex change surgeries. Related Black trans activists say voting for Harris is crucial even if shes imperfect on trans issues I would rather have a fighting chance with her than have no chance at all with Trump. Browns response ad plays clips from the attacks and calls them a complete lie. But instead of proceeding to express support for trans rights, he reminds voters that Ohios state lawmakers had already banned trans girls from sports. He then expressed agreement with the states anti-trans Gov. Mike DeWine (R) that the issue of trans women in sports should be left to individual sports leagues and associations rather than the government. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The ad ends with a clip from Ohio news station WKYC verifying that Brown did not vote to let transgender biological men participate in womens sports. Trans activist and journalist Erin Reed said the language Brown perpetuates in the ad reinforces the narrative that transgender women are biological men and that his assertion about the Ohio state law suggests a degree of distancing from transgender athletes. She said that the statement regarding sports leagues has been better received and reflects the approach taken by most states in recent years.Earlier this week, Senate candidate and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) became the first federal-level Democratic candidate ever to release a TV ad responding to Republican transphobic attacks. I dont want boys playing girls sports, Allred said in the ad, responding to several aired on behalf of his Republican opponent for the Senate, anti-LGBTQ+ Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). Trans advocates have insinuated that Allreds ad is transphobic and needless, seeing as most American voters arent concerned about transgender athletes.Now that Brown has also released an ad, advocates are worried that the strength of the GOPs anti-trans campaign is causing Democrats to bend.I truly believe Sherrod Brown is a staunch ally to our community, one Ohio advocate who wished to remain anonymous told Reed. The fact that hes even slightly rolling on this should be a wake-up call for everyone concerned about the strength of attacks on trans people. Im also really, really scared about how the effectivenessor perceived effectivenessof this will impact down-ballot and future races. It may also be more beneficial for Democrats to simply go on ignoring the attacks. New polling indicates that most voters arent worried about gender-affirming care and are less likely to support transphobic political candidates.Recent Human Rights Campaign pollingshows that only 5% of voters say theyre concerned about gender-affirming care comparatively, 52% are more concerned about inflation raising the cost of living. Additionally, 61% said they wont support candidates who support banning gender-affirming care including 41% of Republicans.The polling also found that 70% of voters feel anti-LGBTQ+ bills have gone too far and that politicians have targeted trans people to divide Americans and maintain their political power. Nevertheless, the ads from Brown and Allred indicate the anti-trans attacks from the GOP may be starting to fracture the Democratic partys attitude toward trans rights. The future of transgender protections may rest on a Democratic Senates ability to confirm judicial appointments under a Harris administration, Reed noted, But perhaps the greatest threat is the potential for fracture within the Democratic Party itself. If Democrats begin to compromise on transgender rights the damage could be irreversible, she warned. The only way to protect transgender rights for the long term is through unwavering Democratic solidaritybecause once the line is crossed, there may be no turning back.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.