Representative Nancy Mace (R., S.C.) proposed legislation on Monday that would bar males from using the women’s restroom on Capitol Hill.
The bill, which bars “members, officers, and employees of the House from using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex,” comes as Representative-elect Sarah McBride (D., Del.), a male who identifies as female, prepares to be sworn in as the first transgender member of Congress
The resolution alleges that “allowing biological males into single-sex facilities, such as restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms designed for women, jeopardizes the safety and dignity of Members, officers, and employees of the House who are female.”
If approved, the House sergeant-at-arms would be charged with enforcing the new provision.
McBride referred to the Republican South Carolina legislator’s resolution as a “blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing.”
“We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars,” McBride said.
The soon-to-be Delaware lawmaker also took to social media, writing, “Every day Americans go to work with people who have life journeys different than their own and engage with them respectfully, I hope members of Congress can muster that same kindness.”
Mace, however, hasn’t backed down. “This is a biological man trying to force himself into women’s spaces, and I’m not going to tolerate,” she said.
Speaker Mike Johnson, who will lead the new Republican majority come January, has not said whether he plans to bring the bill to the floor for a vote.
“We don’t look down upon anyone. We treat everybody with dignity and respect,” Johnson said. “That’s a principle that I’ve pursued my whole life. And we will take care of this issue of first impression for Congress as we will any other thing.”
“We’ll provide appropriate accommodation for every member of Congress,” he added.
When asked if the Louisiana representative believed McBride is a male or female, Johnson attempted to clarify his stance on the issue.
“A man is a man and a woman is a woman and a man cannot become a woman,” he said. “That said, I also believe — that’s what Scripture teaches, what I just said — but I also believe that we treat everybody with dignity and so we can do and believe all those things at the same time.”