Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday he supports limiting “single-sex facilities” in the Capitol, including restrooms, to “individuals of that biological sex” – which would effectively ban the first transgender congresswoman from using women’s restrooms in the next Congress.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a resolution this week that would ban transgender women from using women’s restrooms and other facilities in the Capitol. She said Tuesday that the bill “absolutely” targets Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, D-Del., the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.
“All sex facilities in the Capitol and House of Representatives office buildings – such as restrooms, locker rooms and locker rooms – are reserved for persons of that biological sex,” Johnson said in the statement, noting that “each member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol.”
He added: “Women deserve the only space for women.”
Johnson told reporters on Tuesday that he personally believes that “a man cannot become a woman,” but added: “I also believe that we treat everyone with dignity, and so we can do and believe all these things at the same time.”
In a statement posted to X on Wednesday, McBride wrote: “I’m not here to argue about bathrooms. I’m here to fight for Delawareans and lower costs for families. Like all members, I will follow the rules set forth by Speaker Johnson, even if I disagree with them.”
“The attempt to distract from the real issues facing this country has not distracted me in recent days as I have remained hard at work preparing to represent the largest state in the union in January, she added.
The speaker’s statement alone does not formally restrict transgender people from using the bathroom that corresponds to their gender, but does indicate the kinds of rules that could be included in Congress’ upcoming rules package — which would take effect in January .
Asked about the speaker’s statement, Mace said she found the sentiment positive, but still had questions about the enforcement mechanisms and whether it would be in the rules package for the next Congress.
Her position on LGBTQ issues this week appears to differ from comments she made in a 2021 interview, in which Mace told the Washington Examiner: “I am a strong supporter of LGBTQ rights and equality. No one should be discriminated against. “
She added at the time: “It’s not a black and white issue. I truly believe that religious freedom, the First Amendment, gay rights, and transgender equality can all coexist. I am also a constitutionalist, and we must ensure that anti-discrimination laws do not violate First Amendment rights or religious freedom.”
Representatives for Mace did not immediately respond to a request for comment about her 2021 comments.
Since Mace introduced her resolution, Democrats have loudly rebuked her and Republican leaders.
On Tuesday, during a press conference, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized his Republican colleagues and accused them of “bullying” McBride.
“This coming Republican Conference majority in the Small House is beginning to cross over to the new Congress by bullying a member of Congress,” Jeffries told reporters. ‘This is what we do? Is this the lesson you learned from the November election? This is your priority, that you want to bully a member of Congress, instead of welcoming her to this body so we can all work together.”
Sarah McBride at the U.S. Capitol on November 15.
A spokesperson for Jeffries did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Johnson’s statement on Wednesday.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, told reporters Wednesday that he opposes Mace’s proposal. “It seems to me that this is discriminatory and offensive, it is a deliberate insult and it is actually workplace bullying,” he said.
And Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., wrote in a post on X that the bill was “hateful,” “dangerous” and “unnecessary.”
“Transgender people represent half a percent of Americans. Mind your own damn business and leave them alone,” Jayapal added.
Across the Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also blasted Mace’s resolution as “vile and cruel.”
McBride had responded to Mace’s resolution on Monday, writing in a post on I hope members of Congress can show that same kindness. .”
She added in a second post: “This is a blatant attempt by far-right extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing. We should focus on reducing the costs of housing, health care and child care, not producing culture wars.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
