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Jimmy Williams
Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, D-Del., the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, has denounced Republican efforts to restrict her bathroom use in the Capitol. Speaking on CBS News’ Face the Nation Sunday, McBride called the proposed ban “mean-spirited” and a deliberate distraction from more pressing national issues.
“This is an attempt to misdirect,” McBride said. “Every single time we hear Republicans in Congress talk about any vulnerable group, we have to be clear that it is an attempt to distract from what they’re actually doing — like privatizing Social Security and Medicare or undermining workers’ rights.”
McBride’s remarks follow a resolution introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., which would require House members and staff to use restrooms corresponding to their “biological sex.” Mace openly admitted the resolution targets McBride. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., backed the measure, stating that single-sex facilities in the Capitol should reflect “biological sex.”
McBride addressed the controversy in a separate interview with MSNBC, dismissing the uproar as “a lot of noise.” She reiterated her focus on serving her constituents in Delaware. “I didn’t run to be a first or to make history. I ran to deliver for Delawareans,” McBride said.
Despite the GOP’s stance, McBride has received strong support from Democratic leaders. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., labeled Mace’s resolution “disgusting and wrong,” adding, “We have bigger issues in this country than where someone goes to the bathroom.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also criticized Republicans for targeting McBride, calling the move “bullying.” Speaking to reporters, Jeffries said, “This is your priority? Bullying a member of Congress instead of working together to deliver results for the American people?”
The White House also weighed in, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre affirming President Biden’s pride in McBride. “She’s here to fight for Delawareans, not to fight about bathrooms,” Jean-Pierre said during Thursday’s briefing.
McBride’s election marks a historic milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in Congress, but the backlash highlights ongoing cultural battles over transgender rights. As McBride prepares to take office in January, her focus remains on addressing economic concerns and improving lives in Delaware, rather than engaging in GOP-led controversies.
