Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride, the first transgender person elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, spoke out Wednesday after the House of Representatives banned transgender people from using the single-sex restrooms in the Capitol that match their gender identity. , issued a statement on social media.
Earlier in the day, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, issued a statement “regarding facilities throughout the Capitol.”
“All single-sex facilities, including restrooms, locker rooms, and locker rooms in the Capitol Building and the House Office Building, are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” Johnson said in a statement.
He added: “It is important to note that each member’s office has its own restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout Parliament House. Women need their own space.”
McBride was the first transgender person elected to the Delaware State Senate in 2020, won the seat in an election earlier this month, and is scheduled to be sworn in as a Delaware representative in January.
She initially rejected the proposed restrictions, saying the debate was far-right-driven and distracted from issues such as housing, health care and child care.
But on Wednesday after Johnson’s announcement, McBride responded in a post to X: Like all members, I will abide by the rules outlined by Chairman Johnson, even if I disagree. This effort to distract from the real problems facing this country has not distracted me over the past few days. ”
Her statement regarding X continued as follows: “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve in the 119th Congress, and I look forward to getting to know my future colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I love seeing those qualities in the future colleagues I meet.1 I look forward to seeing those qualities in all of our members this month and hope that all of my colleagues will strive to do the same as me.”
On Monday, South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace introduced a bill that would ban transgender people, including members of Congress, officers and staff, from using single-sex restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity in the Capitol. submitted.
Mace told reporters that McBride “doesn’t deserve a women’s space, a women’s restroom, a locker room, a changing room, a menstrual period, an end point, etc.”, calling her a biological male and saying that McBride doesn’t deserve a woman’s space. “I have no right to speak,” he said, CNN reported.
Mace’s bill comes as Republicans attack transgender people as part of a broader political culture war strategy, restricting the bathrooms they can use and the youth sports teams they can play on. According to the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ rights group, 14 states currently have laws in place that prohibit transgender people from using the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity.
Donald Trump actively engaged in these politics during his presidential campaign.
On Wednesday afternoon, Wisconsin Representative Mark Pocan, chairman of the Congressional Equality Caucus, issued a statement saying: It puts countless staff, interns, and visitors to the Capitol at risk.
Furthermore, he added: “How will this be enforced? Will the sergeant have a police officer in the bathroom? Will everyone who works in the Capitol have to carry their birth certificate or undergo genetic testing? ?This policy protects no one, but it opens the door to rampant abuse, harassment, and discrimination in the Capitol…to distract from their incompetence in governing. We’re looking to use attacks like this.”
LPac, a political action committee that supports elected LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary presidential candidates and supported McBride, criticized a “smear campaign” that dehumanized transgender people and called McBride He called him “an incredibly kind and caring human being who worked tirelessly.” Improving people’s lives and creating a fairer future for all. The group said trans women are “not a threat” and that transgender people are themselves disproportionately vulnerable to violence.
The statement goes on to say, “If this was truly about creating a safe space for women, why would there be more fuss from Nancy and her colleagues about the fact that the man found responsible for sexual abuse is the next president?” Didn’t you wake me up?” he fired back. That some of his senior appointees have been accused of sexual assault? ”
This article was amended on November 20, 2024 to remove the subheading and in-text reference to the Bluesky post attributed to Sarah McBride. A representative for Mr. McBride later said the account was not connected to the congressman-elect.
