WORCESTER, Mass. - Worcester City Councilor Thu Nguyen announcing they will not be returning to the council floor indefinitely. Nguyen is the same councilor who took a month long leave of absence earlier in the year sighting transphobic harassment. 

Nguyen releasing a statement on social media Wednesday morning, calling the move a political reimagination. Councilor Nguyen says their decision comes because they refuse to partake in 'performative politics.' The councilor also saying the current council refuses to hold themselves accountable, pointing to issues of transphobia, discrimination, and a described 'toxic' council culture, including allegations of some members referring to the councilor as "it." Nguyen says all of these issues have been on display over the last month.

Nguyen, was first elected in 2021, and became the city's first non-binary elected leader. While Nguyen will not be attending meetings or taking part in council business, they are not resigning from their post. This decision comes after just last week, councilors voted to declare Worcester as a sanctuary city for trans and gender diverse people; an issue at the forefront of the agenda and public participation for weeks and something Nguyen called their legacy.

Members of the trans community here in Central Massachusetts say they were also disappointed with the council's decision not to find a third-party investigator to look into Nguyen's alleged harassment

"I think that statement was released in response to the fact that the procedural efforts that they made to target basic labor accountability in their workplace was met with a sort of unqualified rejection."

Spectrum News 1 spoke with former Mayor Raymond Mariano to get his insight on the current state of the Worcester City Council, following Nguyen's announcement. He says he respects Councilor Nguyen's decision to take the absence, but calls the situation unprecedented, saying council has no attendance rules.

"I think that's a mistake on the councilor's part because if you want to effect change, if you want to do things, you've got to show up," Mariano said. "You can't do that from your living room. You've got to be in the room and you've got to take on the fight. If you feel that councilors are being disrespectful or that the city manager isn't responding appropriately, or if the mayor is being disrespectful, you've got to be in the room. Take on the fight."

Similar to when Nguyen announced their month-long hiatus last month, City Clerk Niko Vangjeli tells Spectrum News 1 he will continue to call Nguyen's name during roll call. The councilor will also still get their monthly stipend.

In their statement, Nguyen said their empty chair is for the people who will never feel safe at City Hall. They go on to say they will consider resigning after Mayor Joe Petty and Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson do the same. Nguyen referenced the mayor, along with councilors Carlson and Kate Toomey as members who misgendered them.

Spectrum News 1 did reach out to the mayor's office Wednesday, but a spokesperson for petty said his office did not have a comment on the situation.