US House Speaker Supports Bathroom Ban for Transgender Member
Controversy Surrounds Transgender Rights in Congress Following Historic Election
In Washington, the US House Speaker, Mike Johnson, has supported a measure to prevent newly elected transgender Representative Sarah McBride from using women's restrooms in Congress.
Johnson confirmed that all single-sex facilities in the Capitol would be reserved for individuals based on their biological sex.
This statement follows McBride's election as the first openly transgender congressperson.
The Republican-controlled House, after the November elections, has generally shown resistance to her presence.
Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina proposed a resolution to bar transgender women from female restrooms, citing her stance against 'biological men' in these spaces.
Mace has since extended the proposed rule to all federal properties.
LGBTQ rights, especially concerning restroom access and gender-affirming care, continue to fuel considerable debate in the US.
Meanwhile, McBride intends to comply with the legislature's restroom policy, expressing hope for mutual respect among her colleagues.
The issue emerged as the nation observed Transgender Day of Remembrance, acknowledging violence against transgender people.
President Joe Biden addressed the ongoing discrimination against transgender individuals but did not comment on the congressional dispute.
As McBride prepares to take office in January, the debate over transgender rights in legislative spaces persists.