"You're a Man, Don't Go to Women's Restroom"... US Congress in Uproar Over Gender Transition Clinic Targeting Bill

Republican U.S. House Member Targets Transgender Elected Official
Proposes Bill Banning Use of Women-Only Spaces in Capitol
"He Is a Biological Male" vs "Undemocratic Behavior"

U.S. Republican Representative Nancy Mace has introduced a bill targeting transgender Democratic lawmakers, sparking strong backlash. The bill prohibits transgender women from using women-only spaces within the federal Capitol, and it is expected to apply to Sarah McBride, the first transgender lawmaker elected to the U.S. Congress as a Democratic representative-elect.

Representative-elect Sara McBride of the Democratic Party attended the new member orientation on the 14th (local time). Photo by AFP Yonhap News

On the 19th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported, "Representative Mace introduced a bill the day before that bans lawmakers and congressional staff from using single-sex facilities (restrooms and locker rooms) that do not correspond to their biological sex." Speaking to reporters, Mace emphasized, "Representative-elect McBride is biologically male and therefore has no right to speak," adding, "He should not be allowed in spaces designated for women." Fellow Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also said, "He is a man," and added, "I am sick of the left shoving their disgusting trans ideology down our throats and infringing on our spaces and women's sports."

Representative Mace stated that House Speaker Mike Johnson, also a Republican, agreed with the bill. However, when asked by reporters whether he supported Mace's proposal, Speaker Johnson avoided a direct answer, saying, "I will not get involved in this issue. We welcome all newly elected representatives, who are the legitimate representatives of the people, with an open mind. I believe it is our mandate to treat everyone with dignity and respect."

In response, Representative-elect McBride issued a statement calling the bill "a blatant attempt by far-right extremists to hide their inability to offer real solutions to the problems Americans face," adding, "We should focus on lowering housing, healthcare, and childcare costs rather than fueling culture wars." Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury also condemned the bill, saying, "It is disgusting, shameful, irresponsible, and undemocratic for a fellow female lawmaker to publicly attack another female lawmaker."