Legislative Move and Reactions
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced a resolution to ban transgender women from using women's bathrooms in the Capitol, citing concerns over women's privacy and safety. The measure specifically targets Rep.-elect (D-DE), the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.
McBride and other Democrats criticized the resolution as an attack on transgender rights and a distraction from pressing national issues like healthcare and housing costs. McBride emphasized the importance of respectful engagement with people of diverse backgrounds.
House Leadership and Future Implications
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) expressed support for the resolution, framing it as a matter of dignity and respect for all persons. He pledged to find a resolution that accommodates everyone's needs while addressing the unprecedented issue of transgender individuals in the Capitol.
The resolution, if included in the rules package for the 119th Congress, would require a majority vote, posing a challenge given the razor-thin Republican majority. Mace plans to push for the measure's adoption, either through the rules package or as a standalone vote, emphasizing the protection of women's spaces.