Protecting Women's Private Spaces Act

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On November 18, 2024, Nancy Mace introduced an anti-transgender bathroom bill in the US House of Representatives to ban newly elected member Sarah McBride from using bathrooms other than those of her sex assigned at birth. Two days later, US House speaker Mike Johnson declared that Mace's ban was being ushered in. [1]

Contents

Mace stated her intent for the bill to act as a litmus test for male Republican politicians. [2]

Bathroom ban in the Capitol

On November 18, 2024, Mace introduced a resolution to ban transgender people from using bathrooms other than those of their sex assigned at birth at the U.S. Capitol, in anticipation of the swearing in of Sarah McBride, who is the first trans person elected to Congress. [3] [4] Mace misgendered McBride in several repeated transphobic statements. [3] [5] She confirmed that McBride was "absolutely" the target of her bathroom resolution. [6] Talking to Leland Vittert, Mace announced that she will "fight like hell" to exclude McBride from women's restrooms on the Capitol. [7] Mace's 2024 House resolution would prevent McBride from using "single-sex facilities". H. Res. 1579 was entitled, "Prohibiting Members, officers, and employees of the House from using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex, and for other purposes." [8] [9] Mary Miller and Matt Rosendale co-sponsored her bathroom resolution. [10] Mace also said, "Men that want to use women’s restrooms are threatening to kill me over this issue," Mace told NewsNation. [11]

Mike Johnson's bathroom ban extends to trans and non-binary staff members, interns or even visitors from the public. [12]

Critics of the ban and its Republican supporters accused them of hypocrisy since Donald Trump and some potential members of his administration have been accused of sexual assault. [13] Additionally, critics have decried that transphobia has become a central GOP policy. [14] [15] Jen Psaki has urged Democrats to confront bigotry head-on. [16] [17]

Trans-rights activist Sarah Wade has criticized Representative-elect Sarah McBride for her acquiescence to use follow the rules of the house, arguing that it ignores the dignity and safety of gender minorities. [18]

Protests

Demonstrators protested the Capitol bathroom ban that requires birth-based bathroom usage on December 5, 2024. Capitol Police arrested 15 people protesters including Chelsea Manning [19] [20] and Raquel Willis. [21] Manning went on to say, "I'm here today because every person deserves dignity and respect, both in daily life and in more symbolic places like the U.S. Capitol." [22] The protesters chanted, "Democrats, grow a spine!" [23] Willis noted, "In the 2024 election, trans folks were left to fend for ourselves after nearly $200 million of attack ads were disseminated across the United States." [24]

In mocking the protesters with a transphobic slur, [25] [26] Nancy Mace posted on X, "The trannies came, they saw and they did not conquer during their protest," [27] which has been labeled as "hateful conduct" [28] by the X staff despite Musk's personal expression of support for Mace's efforts. Mace also yelled slurs at the protestors with a bullhorn. [14] [29]

Expanded women-only spaces

CongressShort titleLong titleBill number(s)Date introduced Sponsor # of co-sponsorsLatest status
118th Congress (2023-2024)Protecting Women's Private Spaces ActTo prohibit individuals from accessing or using single-sex facilities on Federal property other than those corresponding to their biological sex, and for other purposes.H.R.10186November 20, 2024Nancy Mace5House - Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

One day after the bathroom bill, Marjorie Taylor Greene expressed her chagrin that Mace's bill did not go far enough. Greene misgendered McBride and told reporter Pablo Manríquez, "I support a resolution that keeps all biological men out of women's bathrooms, locker rooms, and private places. Not only here in the Capitol complex, our office buildings, but all taxpayer-funded facilities." [30] Two days later, Mace announced a new expanded House resolution to ban "Biological Men from Women's Spaces on All Federal Property." [31] The broader bill was "H.R.10186 - To prohibit individuals from accessing or using single-sex facilities on Federal property other than those corresponding to their biological sex, and for other purposes." [32] Michael Rulli and Marjorie Taylor Greene announced their support with co-sponsorship. [33]

In other interviews, Mace belittled and misgendered McBride repeatedly, saying, "...I'm not into pronouns. I don't care... I'm not going to play into this gender ideology." [34]

However, reported studies do not support the claims that trans people endanger women and girls in restrooms; the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law found "there is no evidence that letting transgender people use public facilities that align with their gender identity increases safety risks." [35] [36] According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, research shows that "trans and gender non-binary teens face greater risk of sexual assault in schools that prevent them from using the bathrooms...consistent with their gender identity, according to a recent study." [37]

Reactions

Opposition to resolution and bill

The chair and co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Mark Pocan and Becca Balint, criticized the House Speaker's bathroom ban. [38] Balint said the bill was an "incredibly craven and cruel attack" on McBride, intended to "dehumanize" her. [39] Other politicians who have also criticized Mace's comments and actions include Eric Sorensen, [40] Robert Garcia, [41] Tammy Duckworth, [42] Hakeem Jeffries, [43] Sara Jacobs, [44] and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. [45]

Mace has also been criticized in the media. On The View, Sara Haines said Mace was a bully. [46] The Daily Show co-host Desi Lydic said Mace was "trying to get actual predators into the highest levels of government". [47] [48]

Ana Kasparian of the The Young Turks criticized Mace for attacking and misgendering McBride in an interview. [49] On the basis of Mace's Human Rights Campaign Scorecard, an LGBTQ Nation analysis suggested she was "always a transphobic extremist." [50]

In response to the bathroom ban, GLAAD issued a press release stating, "'Biological sex' is not an accurate nor a scientific term, but is used by opponents of transgender people to dehumanize them and deny their equal access to society." [51] Advocates for Trans Equality criticized Mace's measures, saying they were "designed to divide us" and "unfairly single out a vulnerable community". [52] Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said the policy was "cruel and discriminatory" and affected "all trans and nonbinary people who work and visit the Capitol". [53]

Support for bill

Elon Musk tweeted his support for Nancy Mace with a meme with the text: "your mental illness is not my new reality." [54] Megyn Kelly misgendered McBride and said she must use "the men's bathroom". [55]

Claims of censorship

Whereas most of Mace's posts relating to the topic were promoted, a couple got a warning label for hate speech on December 5, 2024. Mace denied the assertion, writing, "It's not hate speech." [56]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Speaker Johnson declares support for banning Sarah McBride's access to women's restrooms". Associated Press News . November 20, 2024. Archived from the original on November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Rep. Nancy Mace: I Want All My Male Colleagues on the Record, Trans Bathroom Issue Is a Litmus Test". RealClearPolitics. November 21, 2024. Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Talbot, Haley; Rimmer, Morgan; Raju, Manu (October 19, 2024). "Republican introduces anti-transgender bathroom resolution at Capitol after first transgender woman elected to Congress". CNN . Archived from the original on November 19, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  4. ↑ "BathroomResolution". DocumentCloud.org. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Rep. Nancy Mace finally mastered the right-wing media universe". Washington Post. November 21, 2024.
  6. ↑ Matza, Max. "Republican lawmaker moves to bar trans colleague from women's bathrooms". BBC. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Nancy Mace: Capitol transgender bathroom rules protect women". NewsNation. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  8. ↑ "118TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION, House Resolution 1579" (PDF). United States Congress. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 19, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  9. ↑ Mace, Nancy (November 18, 2024). "REP. NANCY MACE'S RESOLUTION TO PROTECT WOMEN'S PRIVATE SPACES AT THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL". Nancy Mace. House.gov Press Release.
  10. ↑ "Cosponsors: H.Res.1579 — 118th Congress (2023-2024)". congress.gov. November 18, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Mace says she's had death threats over resolution on trans women in Capitol restrooms". The Hill. November 20, 2024. Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Trans Rights Activists Stage Protest In Bathroom Next To Mike Johnson's Office". HuffPost. December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  13. ↑ "The congressional bathroom ban is the latest transgender policy battle". ABC News . November 25, 2024. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Riedel, Samantha (December 6, 2024). "Nancy Mace, a Sitting Congresswoman, Is Openly Using Slurs Online". Them. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Letters to the Editor: Anti-trans bigotry sadly pays big political dividends for the GOP". Los Angeles Times. December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Jen Psaki says Dems shouldn't buy into GOP's transphobia". www.advocate.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  17. ↑ MSNBC (November 17, 2024). Psaki: Democrats are learning the wrong message on Trans Youth . Retrieved December 6, 2024– via YouTube.
  18. ↑ Wade, Stephanie (December 5, 2024). "Sarah McBride & the Democrats will never win if they don't learn to fight". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Demonstrators arrested outside Speaker Johnson's office for protesting bathroom ban - The Washington Post". The Washington Post . December 7, 2024. Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  20. ↑ Music, Morgan (December 5, 2024). "Trans Activist Chelsea Manning Uses Ladies' Room in Capitol Building to Protest Republican Bathroom Ban". Latin Times. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Transgender advocates stage a sit-in protest at a U.S. Capitol bathroom". NBC News. December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  22. ↑ Grayer, Annie (December 5, 2024). "Chelsea Manning and others arrested outside Speaker Johnson's office in protest for transgender rights | CNN Politics". CNN. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  23. ↑ Lotz, Avery (December 5, 2024). "Trans rights activists arrested in House building during bathroom ban protest". Axios. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  24. ↑ McMenamin, Lex (December 5, 2024). "Trans Activists Arrested For Occupying Bathroom Outside Mike Johnson's Office". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Transgender advocates stage a sit-in protest at a U.S. Capitol bathroom". NBC News. December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  26. ↑ Palmer, Kathryn. "Chelsea Manning, trans rights activists protest at Capitol, GOP lawmaker uses slur". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Capitol Police arrest protesters opposing new House bathroom rules - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  28. ↑ Mace, Nancy (December 6, 2024). "Rep. Nancy Mace on X: "The trannies came, they saw, and they did not conquer during their protest. #HoldTheLine" / X" . Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  29. ↑ Reimer, Alex (December 5, 2024). "Nancy Mace grows more & more psychotic as Sarah McBride sticks to the high road". Queerty. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  30. ↑ Pablo, Pablo (November 18, 2024). "Video interview of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene". X. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  31. ↑ Mace, Nancy (November 20, 2024). "Rep. Nancy Mace Doubles Down on Ban for Biological Men from Women's Spaces on All Federal Property". mace.house.gov. Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  32. ↑ Mace, Nancy (November 20, 2024). "H.R.10186 - To prohibit individuals from accessing or using single-sex facilities on Federal property other than those corresponding to their biological sex, and for other purposes". congress.gov. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  33. ↑ Mace, Nancy (November 20, 2024). "Cosponsors: H.R.10186 — 118th Congress (2023-2024)". congress.gov. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  34. ↑ Peller, Lauren (November 20, 2024). "Speaker Johnson says transgender women won't be allowed to use women's restrooms in Capitol". ABC News. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  35. ↑ "No link between trans-inclusive policies and bathroom safety, study finds". NBC News. September 19, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  36. ↑ Steinmetz, Katy (May 2, 2016). "Why LGBT Advocates Say Bathroom 'Predators' Are Red Herring". TIME. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Transgender teens with restricted bathroom access at higher risk of sexual assault | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health". May 7, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  38. ↑ "CEC Chair Pocan Slams Speaker Johnson's Bathroom Ban". Equality Caucus. November 20, 2024. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  39. ↑ Rector, Kevin (November 23, 2024). "Democrats rally behind first out transgender member of Congress, decry Republican attacks". Archived from the original on November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  40. ↑ Papp, Justin (November 19, 2024). "'A slap in the face to the first trans member of Congress': Dems denounce Mace's bathroom measure". Roll Call. Roll Call . Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  41. ↑ Wallace, Nicolle (November 19, 2024). "'Shameful': House GOP make anti-trans bathroom bill their first priority in new congress". Deadline: White House . MSNBC. NBC. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  42. ↑ Bash, Dana (November 24, 2024). "Interview With Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)". State of the Union . CNN. CNN. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  43. ↑ "Hakeem Jeffries On Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill: 'Nancy Mace Clearly Needs An Intervention'". The View channel on YouTube. The View. November 22, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Ocasio-Cortez: Mace, Johnson 'endangering all women and girls' with bathroom ban". The Hill. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Watch AOC slam Nancy Mace for 'endangering all women' with transgender bathroom ban". The Advocate. Archived from the original on November 27, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  46. ↑ "The View's Sara Haines slams Rep. Nancy Mace as 'bullying troll' over congresswoman's transphobic social media meltdown". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  47. ↑ "Gaetz Drops AG Bid & Nancy Mace Wages Transphobic Attack on Sarah McBride". The Daily Show. November 23, 2024. Archived from the original on November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  48. ↑ "'Daily Show': Desi Lydic Ridicules Nancy Mace's 'Performative' Bathroom Bill". The Wrap. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  49. ↑ Kasparian, Ana (November 20, 2024). "Nancy Mace Goes On DISGUSTING Tirade Against Transwoman Elected To Congress". The Young Turks. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  50. ↑ Bollinger, Alex Bollinger (November 21, 2024). "Nancy Mace was never an LGBTQ+ ally. She was always a transphobic extremist". LGBTQ Nation. Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  51. ↑ "GLAAD RESPONDS TO RESOLUTION TARGETING REP.-ELECT SARAH MCBRIDE, AND DISINFORMATION ABOUT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE". GLAAD. November 19, 2024. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  52. ↑ "A4TE Statement on Anti-Trans Restroom Rule on Capitol Hill". A4TE . Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  53. ↑ "Speaker Mike Johnson Announces Capitol Bathroom Ban". Human Rights Campaign. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  54. ↑ "Elon Musk shows support for Nancy Mace". OutKick. November 27, 2024. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  55. ↑ "Megyn Kelly Applauds Republican Bathroom Bill Targeting the First Trans Member of Congress | Video". November 20, 2024. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  56. ↑ Nazzaro, Miranda (December 6, 2024). "Mace claims X is censoring her posts". The Hill. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
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