In a significant move, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) has introduced a resolution aimed at banning transgender women from using female bathrooms in the Capitol. This proposal comes just two weeks after Democrat Sarah McBride of Delaware made history as the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. Although McBride will not officially join Congress until January 3, Mace’s resolution seeks to amend House rules to prevent McBride and any other transgender individuals from accessing bathrooms that align with their gender identity.
While the resolution does not explicitly mention McBride, Mace stated, “it’s 100 percent because of McBride,” asserting that the future congresswoman “doesn’t get a say” in shaping this unprecedented policy. Mace emphasized the importance of women’s rights, declaring, “This is about women and our right to privacy, our right to safety.”
McBride, who declined to comment on the resolution while leaving a House Democratic caucus meeting, did respond shortly after its introduction. She expressed hope that Congress members could demonstrate the same respect that Americans show to one another in their workplaces: “Every day Americans go to work with people who have life journeys different than their own and engage with them respectfully, I hope members of Congress can muster that same kindness.”
In her critique of the resolution, McBride labeled it “a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing.” She urged Congress to focus on pressing issues such as housing, health care, and child care rather than engaging in culture wars.
The introduction of this resolution has sparked a broader debate within the House regarding the rights of transgender individuals in the Capitol complex. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) acknowledged the complexity of the issue, stating, “It’s an issue of first impression for the Congress.” He assured reporters that the House would work towards a resolution that accommodates everyone, emphasizing, “I believe it’s a command we treat all persons with dignity and respect.”
However, Johnson later clarified his stance on gender identity, asserting, “Let me be unequivocally clear: A man is a man, and a woman is a woman, and a man cannot become a woman.”
Mace indicated that she had discussed the resolution with Johnson and that he might consider including it in the rules package for the upcoming Congress. If not, she plans to file a privileged resolution next year, which would require a vote within 48 hours of its introduction.
As the House prepares to vote on the rules on January 3, Mace’s resolution currently lacks privileged status, meaning an immediate vote is not required. Even if passed this year, it would need to be reintroduced and approved again in 2025 to take effect.
The debate over bathroom access has intensified nationwide, with Republican lawmakers in various states pushing to limit transgender rights. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) voiced her support for Mace’s resolution, stating, “America is fed up with the trans ideology being shoved into our face. Men are not women.”
In contrast, House Democrats have rallied around McBride. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-California) remarked, “She just got to Congress. She’s going to use whatever restroom she needs to use. It’s just sad that we have to have this conversation.” Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) added, “There’s no bottom to the cruelty. We have an obligation to push back. When we allow attacks on someone’s basic human dignity, we’re all made more cruel.”
House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Massachusetts) criticized the focus on bathroom access, stating, “The American people say: Mind your own business about where people do their business.”
Mace, who previously supported LGBTQ rights, has shifted her position, arguing that her resolution is necessary to protect women. “This puts women in harm’s way, especially women who are survivors of abuse. Just the idea of a man going into a woman’s private space, it feels like rape. It’s just not okay,” she asserted.
Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Illinois) countered Mace’s claims, calling her stance “absolutely ignorant” and emphasizing that there is no evidence to suggest that transgender individuals pose a greater risk in public restrooms.
As the 119th Congress approaches, the resolution and the surrounding debate highlight the ongoing tensions regarding transgender rights and the Republican Party’s stance on these issues.
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Author: karensenales
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