Democratic Congressional Candidate Aftyn Behn Claims Men Can Have Babies

Tennessee Candidate’s Controversial Comments on Gender and Rights

Tennessee Democratic U.S. House candidate Aftin Behn recently stirred debate by claiming on a podcast that men can give birth, which he later explained encompasses both men and women who can. Behn, currently representing the 51st District in the Tennessee House, is pursuing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives previously held by Republican Mark Green. His comments arose during a discussion on the writings of pro-abortion feminist Jenny Brown, who advocates for women to abstain from childbirth to influence government policies.

“As activists, we have a significant opportunity to advocate for progressive policies. Perhaps we can utilize this collective identity of being childbearers—men and women alike,” Behn remarked. He referenced a book titled “Birth Strike” that explores using parenthood as leverage for political negotiation.

Behn has openly supported transgender rights, including objections to the Supreme Court’s ruling that upheld a Tennessee law banning minors from gender reassignment medication. He characterized the decision as a damaging setback for transgender youth and accused the far-right of intensifying their attacks on these rights.

In a recent interview, Behn reiterated his commitment to supporting transgender children and promoting reproductive access, stating, “I will never compromise on abortion access or the rights of transgender children.” Additionally, his campaign features events with drag queens aimed at encouraging families to embrace inclusivity.

Following the tragic mass shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School, where a transgender person was identified as the shooter, Behn expressed concern about the safety of the transgender community. “Discussions were hard, and fears for our lives came into play,” he shared during a candidate forum.

Behn intends to create a “Transgender Bill of Rights” to counteract what he sees as harmful narratives from conservative figures. His activism intensified after the Covenant shooting, inspiring him to run for office to advocate for the transgender community more effectively.

Currently, Behn is competing against Republican Matt Van Epps, who has earned Donald Trump’s endorsement. With early voting underway, the special election is set for December 2nd, and Van Epps is anticipated to secure the seat given its recent voting history.