House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has barred transgender women from using women's restrooms on the House side of the U.S. Capitol and the House office buildings, his office announced in a statement on Wednesday. The policy targets Sarah McBride (D-Delaware), who two weeks ago became the first openly trans person elected to Congress.
The move comes on Transgender Day of Remembrance, which memorializes those who have been killed as a consequence of transphobia.
"All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House office buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex," Johnson said.
The speaker added, "It is important to note that each member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women's only spaces."
Asked how the measure would be enforced, Johnson declined to specify, telling reporters that "like all House policies, it's enforceable."
The November 20 announcement comes two days after Congressmember Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) introduced a proposal to exclude trans women from women's restrooms on Capitol Hill.
The congresswoman said her policy was partially designed to target McBride, who will be the first trans member of Congress when she is seated in January.
Mace and other House Republicans who endorsed her proposal, like Congressmember Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), used transphobic language when discussing McBride and deliberately misgendered her.
McBride responded on X that the effort is "a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists" to distract from their having "no real solutions" for how Congress can address the real issues facing Americans. Among them, McBride cited the cost of housing, health care, and child care.
She also took a ding at her new colleagues in the coming 119th Congress.
"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," she wrote on the social media platform.
Several House Democrats leapt to her defense, from the gay and lesbian members of the Congressional Equality Caucus to Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) and Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), with the latter two calling the rule "bullying." On Tuesday, gay Congressmember Mark Takano (D-Riverside) criticized congressional GOP leaders for focusing on the issue.
"To recap this week:
- GOP fixated on protecting Matt Gaetz from an ethics report.
- House members wanting to legislate bathrooms in the Capitol.
No mention of lowering costs for working families, passing a budget, or doing the ACTUAL work of Congress," the Southern Californian politician wrote in his own post on X.
The Bay Area Reporter contributed reporting.
Never miss a story! Keep up to date on the latest news, arts, politics, entertainment, and nightlife.
Sign up for the Bay Area Reporter's free weekday email newsletter. You'll receive our newsletters and special offers from our community partners.
Support California's largest LGBTQ newsroom. Your one-time, monthly, or annual contribution advocates for LGBTQ communities. Amplify a trusted voice providing news, information, and cultural coverage to all members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay -- Donate today!