Mace (left) claims fear, Johnson (center) points to religion and McBride (right) says she’s not playing games. Credit: Social media composite
Just ahead of newly elected Democrat Sarah McBride coming into Congress, the first openly transgender woman to serve in the legislative institution, Republican Representative of South Carolina Nancy Mace decided to prepare the worst welcome ever.
Mace introduced a piece of legislation that, if passed, would ban transgender women from using facilities on federal property – restrooms and locker rooms – that don’t “correspond” with the sex they were assigned at birth.
North Carolinians will recall less than a decade ago that HB2 was passed by then Governor Pat McCrory, overriding local anti-discrimination ordinances in an attempt to force local and state schools and government facilities with single-gender bathrooms to only allow people of the corresponding sex as listed on their birth certificate to use them.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mace attempted to frame the move as an attempt at protecting women’s rights.
“I know how vulnerable women and girls are in private spaces,” she asserted. “So I’m absolutely, 100 percent, going to stand in the way of any man who wants to be in a women’s restroom, in our locker rooms, in our changing rooms, I will be there fighting you every step of the way.”
When asked if McBride’s victory had anything to do with her recent actions, Mace did not hold back. “Yes and absolutely,” Mace said. “And then some.” Mace was attempting to have the measure passed by any means necessary, which may have included lobbying to put it in the forthcoming House Rules package, a move she said House Speaker Mike Johnson agreed with.
“And if he doesn’t then I will file a privilege motion to force a vote on it,” the MAGA Republican added, before throwing in a last bit of irony in reference to the 2024 election results: “This is the last war on women and I aim to stop it.”
None of that is needed at this point. Within hours of Mace’s meltdown, House Speaker Mike Johnson was apparently motivated to beat Mace to the anti-trans finish line by instituting a “new bathroom policy.”
From Johnson’s statement:
“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” Johnson said in a statement. “It is important to note that each member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol.”
“Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added. “Like all policies, it is enforceable, but we have single-sex facilities for a reason, and women deserve women’s only spaces. And we’re not anti anyone. We’re pro-women, and I think it’s an important policy for us to continue. It’s always been … an unwritten policy, but now it’s in writing.”
After earlier indicating religious faith lead him to the belief that “a man is a man and a woman is a woman and a man can’t become a woman,” he appeared to dodge the topic at a later press conference.
“Look, I’m not going to get into this. We welcome all new members with open arms who are duly elected representatives of the people,” Johnson responded. “I believe it’s a command that we treat all persons with dignity and respect, and we will.”
McBride responded to the proposed legislation and Johnson’s new “policy” via social media gracefully, despite the intolerance aimed at her before she has actually taken office.
“I’m not here to fight about bathrooms, I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families. Like all members, I will follow the rules as outlined by Speaker Johnson, even if I disagree with them. This effort to distract from the real issues facing this country hasn’t distracted me over the last several days.
“Serving in the 119th Congress will be the honor of a lifetime, and I continue to look forward to getting to know my future colleagues on both sides of the aisle,” she continued. “Each of us were sent here because voters saw in us something that they value. I have loved seeing those qualities in the future colleagues that I’ve met and I look forward to seeing those qualities in every member come January. I hope all of my colleagues will seek to do the same with me.
“We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars,” McBride said. “Delawareans sent me here to make the American dream more affordable and accessible and that’s what I’m focused on.”
