WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that members of Congress and their staff will be required to use restrooms that align with their biological sex. This announcement comes in anticipation of the arrival of Sarah McBride, the first transgender individual elected to Congress, who is set to join the House soon.
“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings, including restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms, will be designated for individuals based on their biological sex,” stated Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana. He emphasized the importance of providing “women’s only spaces” for women.
Johnson’s remarks followed a session where he was pressed on the topic and stressed the need for treating everyone “with dignity and respect.” Acknowledging the unprecedented nature of this issue for Congress, he noted that any forthcoming actions will be handled with a focus on member consensus.
On Monday, a resolution was introduced by South Carolina GOP Representative Nancy Mace, aiming to restrict McBride’s access to women’s restrooms, highlighting a commitment to “keep men out of women’s spaces.” Mace confirmed that her bill was specifically targeted at McBride, who was recently elected to the House from Delaware.
In reaction, McBride described the legislative move as a distraction from essential national issues. She stated, “I’m not here to fight about bathrooms. I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to reduce the costs that families face.”
McBride also remarked, “Like all members, I will adhere to the rules outlined by Speaker Johnson, even if I find them disagreeable.” This approach aligns with a common tactic used by those opposing transgender rights, who refer to transgender individuals by the sex they were assigned at birth instead of their identified gender. The broader conversation surrounding whether transgender individuals should be permitted to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity has sparked debates nationwide and was a significant aspect of former President Donald Trump’s campaign.
Currently, at least 11 states have enacted legislation preventing transgender girls and women from accessing female bathrooms in public schools and some government facilities.
Democrats have characterized the GOP’s actions against McBride as bullying. Representative Eric Sorensen, a Democrat from Illinois, called Mace’s statements “absolutely ignorant,” arguing, “There’s no statistical evidence that any transgender individual commits crimes at higher rates than anyone else, so her concerns seem unfounded.”
McBride is set to enter Congress next year after a notable career as an LGBTQ+ advocate, having raised over $3 million in campaign funds from supporters across the nation. In 2016, she made history as the first openly transgender person to speak at a major political party convention in the United States, addressing the Democratic National Convention.