The Erie County Democratic Party is calling on Erie City Councilman Ed Brzezinski to issue a public apology following what it describes as the deliberate misgendering of City Council President Dr. Tyler Titus during a recent council meeting.
The incident occurred during a discussion on Bayfront development, when Brzezinski referred to Titus as “ma’am.” Dr. Titus, who is openly transgender and uses they/them pronouns, later said they were disappointed by the exchange, adding that the issue extends beyond a single comment and reflects a broader concern about respect and professionalism in public office.
In a statement, the Erie County Democratic Party condemned the remark, writing in part that the conduct was “particularly concerning” given what it described as prior public concerns about Brzezinski’s use of demeaning language toward colleagues.
Brzezinski declined to comment when contacted by Erie News Now.
Dr. Titus said they were elected to lead and will not be silenced, and also noted they have received support from local organizations and residents since the incident.
The next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. tomorrow, and the issue is expected to remain a focus of public discussion.