Republicans Propose Restroom Ban for Transgender Lawmaker

In Washington, House Speaker Mike Johnson has shown support for a Republican resolution aiming to block Democrat Sarah McBride, the first transgender person to be elected to Congress, from using women’s restrooms in the Capitol. Johnson stated, "We’re not going to have men in women’s bathrooms. " The resolution, proposed by GOP Rep. Nancy Mace from South Carolina, suggests prohibiting House members and employees from using single-sex facilities that don’t match their biological sex. This provision is specifically targeted at McBride, who recently won a House seat from Delaware. The debate over transgender individuals using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity has been ongoing in the U. S. President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign also emphasized this issue. Currently, at least 11 states have laws barring transgender girls and women from certain bathrooms in schools and other facilities. Mace commented, "I’m absolutely, 100% gonna stand in the way of any man who wants to be in a women’s restroom. " Johnson reportedly assured her that the bathroom restriction would be included in rule changes for the next Congress. Democrats, including McBride, criticized the GOP effort, labeling it as bullying and a distraction. McBride noted, "We should be focused on real issues, like housing, healthcare, and childcare costs. " Rep. Katherine Clark questioned the House Republicans’ focus, stating, "What are they talking about on day one? Where one member out of 435 is going to use the bathroom? " McBride gained national recognition as an LGBTQ+ activist and raised significant funds for her campaign. She became the first openly transgender person to speak at a major party convention in 2016. After her election win, she highlighted the support from Delawareans, stating, "We judge candidates based on their ideas, not identities. "