Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first openly transgender woman elected to Congress, delivered a sharp rebuttal Monday to a Republican lawmaker’s push to bar trans women from using female bathrooms at the Capitol. The proposal, introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), has drawn criticism for its timing and focus on McBride, who was elected earlier this month.
Mace told Fox News that her resolution aims to protect “the sanctity of protecting women and standing up against the Left’s systematic erasure of biological women.” The measure would prohibit members, officers, and employees of the House from using single-sex facilities that don’t correspond to their biological sex. Enforcement would fall under the responsibility of the House Sergeant-at-Arms.
While the resolution broadly applies to all House members, it directly targets McBride as the only openly transgender member of Congress. McBride wasted no time addressing the proposal, dismissing it as a politically motivated distraction. “Every day Americans go to work with people who have life journeys different than their own and engage with them respectfully,” McBride wrote on X. “I hope members of Congress can muster that same kindness.”
She went on to criticize the resolution as a ploy by “far right-wing extremists” to shift attention away from substantive issues. “This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing,” McBride added. “We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars. Delawareans sent me here to make the American dream more affordable and accessible, and that’s what I’m focused on.”
Mace, however, remained dismissive of McBride’s stance. When asked if she planned to consult McBride about the resolution, Mace told Politico, “No, Sarah McBride doesn’t get a say.” The controversy highlights the growing tensions between cultural issues and policy priorities in Congress. While McBride calls for bipartisan focus on economic and social challenges, Mace’s proposal underscores the GOP’s ongoing efforts to appeal to conservative bases with measures targeting trans rights.
McBride’s response emphasizes her commitment to legislative goals, refusing to be sidetracked by what she labels as “manufactured culture wars.” Whether the resolution will gain traction remains uncertain, but it has already sparked a heated debate over inclusivity and representation in Congress.