Mike Johnson, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (Republican, Louisiana), on the 20th (local time) banned transgender women from using women's restrooms inside the Washington D.C. federal Capitol and House buildings. This measure targets the first-ever transgender elected official chosen in the federal House of Representatives election held alongside the presidential election.
There is an analysis that this is a 'preview' of how DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) might change after the re-election of President-elect Donald Trump. DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, referring to the respect for diversity in society, including race and gender.
In a statement released that day, Speaker Johnson said, "Facilities designated for a single biological sex, such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms inside the Capitol and House buildings, are prepared for individuals with that biological sex," and added, "women are entitled to use women-only spaces." This prohibits transgender women from accessing women's restrooms inside the Washington D.C. federal Capitol and House buildings. He also stated, "each House member's office has a private restroom, and there are unisex restrooms in the Capitol."
This measure follows the adoption of a resolution proposed earlier by Republican Representative Nancy Mace (South Carolina). The day before, Representative Mace targeted Democratic Representative-elect Sarah McBride (Delaware), who will enter the House next year as the first transgender woman, stating, "biological males will not be allowed to enter women's private spaces." Representative Mace later expressed gratitude to Speaker Johnson in a post on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing, "I want to ban men from entering women's spaces in all federal buildings, schools, public restrooms, and everywhere."
The LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign immediately opposed the measure. Kelly Robinson, the group's representative, emphasized that this action is "cruel and discriminatory." McBride, the person concerned, stated on X, "This is a blatant attempt by far-right extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to the problems Americans face," adding, "We need to focus on lowering housing, healthcare, and childcare costs, not culture wars." Democratic House Majority Whip Katherine Clark (Massachusetts) told reporters the day before, "Starting the 119th Congress by discussing which of the 435 members can use a restroom is not a good start."
The ban on transgender women using women's restrooms inside the federal Capitol and House buildings is seen as a backlash against the DEI policies that were strengthened under the Biden administration.
It is widely believed that DEI, which was strengthened under the Biden administration, will weaken after President-elect Trump's re-election. Trump has taken a hardline conservative stance on transgender issues. During his presidential campaign, he emphasized, "On my first day in office, I will sign an executive order banning the promotion of critical race theory or transgenderism in schools."
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