Washington — republican congressman Nancy Mays South Carolina filed legislation Monday to change House rules that bar transgender women from using women’s restrooms and other facilities at the Capitol. The proposal comes just before the House prepares to take its first oath. openly transgender member of parliament.
Mace’s two-page resolution seeks to ban House members, officers and staff from using same-sex facilities in the Capitol or House office buildings if they do not match their “biological sex.” Her proposal argues that allowing “biological males” into women’s restrooms, locker rooms and locker rooms “jeopardizes the safety and dignity” of female lawmakers, civil servants and Capitol staff.
If approved, the House Commander would be tasked with enforcing the bill.
The South Carolina Republican’s bill appears to be aimed at Rep.-elect Sarah McBride of Delaware. first openly transgender person She was elected to Congress two weeks ago, winning the race for the state’s only House seat.
McBride called Mace’s resolution “a blatant attempt by far-right extremists to ignore the fact that there are no real solutions to the problems facing Americans.” We must focus on lowering housing, health care, and child care costs. “This is not a manufacturing culture war.”
“Every day, Americans work with and treat people whose life journeys are different than their own and treat them with respect,” she wrote on social media. “I wish our lawmakers could extend the same kindness.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement Wednesday that same-sex facilities, including restrooms, locker rooms and locker rooms, in the Capitol and House office buildings are “reserved for persons of their biological sex.” He pointed out that each member of Congress has a private restroom in his or her office and said there are unisex restrooms throughout the Capitol.
“Women deserve to have women-only spaces,” he said.
McBride said he would follow the rules laid out by Johnson “even if I don’t agree with them.”
“These efforts to divert attention from the real issues facing this country have not been a distraction these past few days, as I have been hard at work preparing to represent the greatest state in the union in January,” she said in a statement. “He said. On social media.
Johnson’s statement came on Transgender Day of Remembrance, observed on November 20 and honoring transgender people who have died in violence. He acknowledged Tuesday that bathroom access for transgender members is an issue the House has never faced before, but said the House will “deliberately address this issue based on member consensus and we will accommodate the needs of all members.” I told them. person.”
Asked whether McBride was a man or a woman, Johnson said: “I’m not going to get into a stupid debate.”
“I welcome all new members who are duly elected representatives of the people,” Mr Johnson said. “I believe in the imperative to treat all people with dignity and respect, and I will do that. I will not engage in foolish debates about it.”
He declined to say whether he plans to include Mace’s proposal in the rules package that will govern the next Congress.
“We ignore no one. We treat everyone with dignity and respect. These are principles I have pursued my entire life,” he said. “And we will treat first impressions of Congress like we do everything else. We will provide appropriate accommodations to every member of Congress.”
Johnson later tried to clarify his reaction to whether McBride was a man or a woman.
He said, “A man cannot be a man and a woman a woman, and a man cannot be a woman.” “But I also believe, that’s what the Bible teaches, that’s what I just said, but I also believe that we can do and believe all of these things at the same time because we treat everyone with dignity.”
House Democrats criticized Mace’s resolution and accused her of bullying fellow lawmakers.
“Is this what we are doing? Is this the lesson you learned from the November election? This is your priority. Instead of welcoming a member of Congress to join this body, you want to harass him. The American people among us Can we work together to get the job done and deliver real results?” Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries said:
Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat, called the proposal “disgusting” and said he “sickened my stomach when I read that.”
Meanwhile, Mays claimed she had been targeted and pledged to introduce new legislation focused on protecting “women and girls everywhere.” She said if Johnson does not include her resolution in the new parliament’s rules package, she will either amend it or force a vote on her bill.
contributed to this report.
