Capitol bathroom bans
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 in several repeated statements, and said that it was “offensive” for a trans woman to think of herself as her equal. [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]
Mike Johnson's bathroom ban extends to trans and non-binary staff members, interns or even visitors from the public. [11] The ban was renewed when the 119th United States Congress convened on January 3, 2025. [12]
Bill expansion
| Congress | Short title | Long title | Bill number(s) | Date introduced | Sponsor | # of co-sponsors | Latest status |
|---|
| 118th Congress (2023–2025) | Protecting Women's Private Spaces Act | 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. | H.R.10186 | November 20, 2024 | Nancy Mace | 5 | House - 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 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". [13] Two days later, Mace announced a new expanded House resolution to ban "Biological Men from Women's Spaces on All Federal Property". [14] 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". [15] Michael Rulli and Marjorie Taylor Greene announced their support with co-sponsorship. [16]
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 [17] [18] and Raquel Willis. [19] 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." [20] The protesters chanted, "Democrats, grow a spine!" [21] 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." [22]
Nancy Mace mocked the protesters with a transphobic slur. [23] [24] Mace posted on X, "The trannies came, they saw and they did not conquer during their protest", [25] which was labeled as "hateful conduct" by X staff. [26] Mace also used a bullhorn to issue a Miranda warning to the protestors. [27] [28] [29]
Reactions
Critics of the ban and its Republican supporters accused them of hypocrisy since other politicians, such as Donald Trump and some potential members of his administration, have been accused of sexual assault. [30] Additionally, critics have decried that transphobia has become a central GOP policy. [28] [31] Jen Psaki has urged Democrats to confront bigotry head-on. [32] [33]
The chair and co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Mark Pocan and Becca Balint, criticized the House Speaker's bathroom ban, [34] saying it was an "incredibly craven and cruel attack" on McBride, intended to "dehumanize" her. [35] Other politicians who have also criticized Mace's comments and actions include Eric Sorensen, [36] Robert Garcia, [37] Tammy Duckworth, [38] Hakeem Jeffries, [39] Sara Jacobs, [40] and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. [41]
Mace has also been criticized in the media. On The View, Sara Haines said Mace was a bully. [42] The Daily Show co-host Desi Lydic said Mace was "trying to get actual predators into the highest levels of government". [43] [44] Ana Kasparian of the The Young Turks criticized Mace for attacking and misgendering McBride in an interview. [45] On the basis of Mace's Human Rights Campaign Scorecard, an LGBTQ Nation analysis suggested she was "always a transphobic extremist". [46]
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." [47] Advocates for Trans Equality criticized Mace's measures, saying they were "designed to divide us" and "unfairly single out a vulnerable community". [48] 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". [49]
Elon Musk tweeted his support for Nancy Mace with a meme with the text: "your mental illness is not my new reality". [50] Megyn Kelly misgendered McBride and said she must use "the men's bathroom". [51] Trans-rights activist Stephanie Wade has criticized Representative-elect Sarah McBride for her acquiescence to follow the rules of the house, arguing that it ignores the dignity and safety of gender minorities. [52]
Whereas most of Mace's tweets relating to the topic were promoted, two received a warning label from X for hate speech on December 5, 2024. Mace denied the assertion, writing, "It's not hate speech." [53] In interviews, Mace has also belittled and misgendered McBride, saying, "I'm not into pronouns. I don't care... I'm not going to play into this gender ideology." [54] Mace says she has received multiple death threats over the bathroom bill, saying, "Men that want to use women’s restrooms are threatening to kill me over this issue." [55]
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