Rep. Mike Honda

CONGRESS | 17TH DISTRICT | Earlier this week, Rep. Mike Honda called on ESPN to fire baseball analyst Curt Schilling for his comments on North Carolina’s new transgender law. After the network relieved Schilling of his duties Wednesday, Honda tweeted support for ESPN’s decision. Honda has a transgender grandchild. Schilling, however, responded Thursday morning, by tweeting Honda was a coward.

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“As the proud grandfather of a transgender grandchild, Curt Schilling’s post on social media was personal. The Sportscaster’s booth is no place for such hate filled speech fueled by intolerance and divisiveness,” said Honda in a statement Thursday.

ESPN fired former pitcher and analyst
Curt Schilling on Wednesday.

“Apparently, posting hateful and derisive memes was not enough for Mr. Schilling, who through his Twitter account went on to call me ‘a coward’ for standing with my grandchild and the transgender community.”

Last year, Honda drew nationwide praise for posting a photo of him and his transgender granddaughter on Twitter.

“I implore all Americans to reject any brand of rhetoric – whether it is on the baseball field or from a podium– that is demeaning to individuals of any race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. I applaud ESPN on their decision. Now is not the time to give a platform to any individual who has a history of spewing such insensitive, racist, sexist, and intolerant discourse as Mr. Schilling.”

Following the statement from Honda’s campaign, Schilling again took to Twitter to slam Honda. In one tweet, Schilling included a link to an article on Honda’s House ethics investigation. “And that? That’s you too?” tweeted Schilling.

Honda is currently facing a rematch with fellow Democrat Ro Khanna in the 17th Congressional District, along with four other candidates in the June Primary.

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