‘He should resign’: Protests over transphobic comments by an Outagamie County Board member erupt into the meeting

Protests over comments an Outagamie County Board member made about transgender people spilled into the board’s meeting Tuesday night, shutting down the proceeding for roughly an hour.

Before the meeting, about three dozen local activists called for county supervisor Tim Hermes to resign as they assembled outside the Outagamie County Courthouse, the group angry about comments Hermes made at a board meeting earlier this month.

One of those protesters was Jonnie Urban, a transgender student at Lawrence University in Appleton and a member of the Appleton Students for a Democratic Society progressive group.

“He should resign because he is letting misinformation dictate his opinions and his beliefs, and that misinformation is harmful,” Urban said. “If someone who has no respect for actual facts is in that position, they can’t be trusted to make decisions that actually benefit what we here in Fox Valley need.”

On May 9, following a presentation on diversity to the County Board, Hermes insinuated that men were pretending to be transgender to go into bathrooms or changing rooms with young girls, before saying, “I find it disgusting,” according to the Appleton Post-Crescent.

Although the meeting was not recorded, County Executive Tom Nelson, Supervisor Sara MacDonald, Supervisor Steve Thiede and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer Major Cooper corroborated the newspaper’s story.

Hermes’ comments were condemned by several public officials, and Thiede also called on him to resign.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, there’s “no evidence” that transgender people using bathrooms that align with their gender identity leads to violence or undermines safety. The LGBTQ+ advocacy group said such claims are “contrived” and “not a real concern based on habits of actual predators.” And, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, transgender people are over four times more likely than their cisgender counterparts to be victims of violent crime.

Hermes did not respond to Wisconsin Public Radio’s requests for comment. But he did send a statement to WBAY-TV last week.

“I have no issues with the trans community. Everybody deserves the same equality, respect and the right to feel safe,” Hermes told the TV station. “I did nothing wrong. I have a right to free speech. I don’t find it appropriate for me to be bullied for doing my job.”

But his comments earlier this month weren’t the first time he made disparaging remarks directed toward the transgender community, according to the Post-Crescent. At a meeting in February, Hermes reportedly said he equated pronouns and gender ideology to the “sexualization of our children.”

Officials provide options for next steps

A county response to Hermes’ May 9 comments was not an official agenda item at Tuesday’s meeting. And county rules stipulate that residents can only speak in public comments about specific agenda items.

However, County Board chair Jeff Nooyen and Corporation Counsel Kyle Sargent did address the issue — but they were interrupted by protesters in the audience.

“Supervisor Hermes has a right to free speech. That said, as an elected official that right comes with a responsibility to make those comments in a professional and respectful manner. Supervisor Hermes did neither,” said Nooyen.

In response to Hermes’ comments, Nooyen also said the county will draft a code of conduct for board members to prevent similar comments from being made in the future.

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Protests boil over into the meeting

Although the audience wasn’t allowed to speak during public comment regarding Hermes’ conduct, Jay Gibbs, an organizer with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, tried. He signed up to speak and began to call for Hermes to be removed from office.

That prompted Nooyen to request Gibbs be escorted from the meeting by Outagamie County Sheriff’s deputies. Gibbs complied and left the meeting room, but it sparked outbursts and chants from protesters.

Nooyen then requested a “short adjournment” and supervisors filed out of the meeting room.

The meeting remained adjourned for roughly an hour, as protesters continued to chant loudly and sheriff’s deputies monitored the situation.

After the meeting, Gibbs said he signed up to speak knowing his comments wouldn’t be permitted in a show of “civil disobedience.”

“It is good to stir up good trouble, simply disobeying unjust things produces results,” he said. “The Civil Rights Movement was not won in Senate subcommittees. The Civil Rights Movement was won on the streets.”

Protesters say supervisor’s comments were hateful

Prior to the meeting, protesters lined the sidewalk outside the courthouse and chanted “hate free Outagamie,” “trans people are welcome here” and “this is what democracy looks like.”

Helen Boyd, an Appleton resident whose spouse is transgender, said she’s been advocating for trans rights for decades.

“I’m surprised that, this many years in, this kind of ignorance is still being expressed and then also defended as free speech, which you wouldn’t get away with with any other group, frankly,” Boyd said of Hermes’ comments. “This person decided to say things about trans people that you couldn’t say about any other human being.”

County officials react to supervisor’s comments

Hermes’ remarks have also drawn criticism from his fellow officials. In a May 18 statement, MacDonald said she was “appalled” by his remarks, and his lack of an apology.

“After the meeting, it was noted by several county board members along with members of the public that this is a prime example of why it is important that Outagamie County continue to have an (equity, diversity and inclusion) officer,” she said.

After Tuesday’s meeting, Thiede said Hermes’ May 9 comments were “disgusting” and resulted in “audible gasps” from other board members. He said the remarks undermine the county’s efforts to be inclusive to all residents.

“The trans community is a part of our community,” he said. “These are our mothers, our fathers, our sisters, our brothers and these are our children.”

Thiede also said he will consult with corporation counsel about whether he can put forth a resolution to censure Hermes. If it’s allowed, Thiede said he will put forth a resolution.

“I would absolutely like to see him resign,” he added. “You saw the disruption that caused tonight, not only just for county business, but also those comments are hurtful to the entire trans community and to people that care about them.”