Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty is defending his conduct following accusations of misgendering and creating a toxic work culture from Councilor-at-Large Thu Nguyen.

The elected official claims they’ve been misgendered and referred to as “it” by their peers in a discriminatory pattern of toxic behavior that’s been ongoing for years.

Nguyen, the first nonbinary person elected in the state, will take a month off "to prioritize (their) mental and emotional safety."

In response to claims of misgendering Worcester Councilor-at-Large Thu Nguyen, Worcester City Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson said they have "[distorted] the narrative and [weaponized] these accusations for political purposes.

Nguyen, who made history when they became the first openly nonbinary person to hold office in Massachusetts, is taking a hiatus from their role as a Worcester city councilor to prioritize their mental health,

First lady Jill Biden expressed her disappointment with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a new interview with The Washington Post, providing rare public comments about the fractured relationship between her husband, Joe Biden, and Pelosi following the president’s departure from the 2024 race.

In a statement released Wednesday morning, Nguyen made reference to allegations they had been misgendered by Mayor Joseph M. Petty and Councilor At-Large Kathleen Toomey on the council floor. They also mentioned "recently learning" that they had been called "it" by another councilor, District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson.