House Republicans Push for Ban on Bathroom Access for Congress’s First Transgender Member

House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, are signaling support for a proposal to bar Democrat Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, from using women’s restrooms on Capitol Hill. McBride, who recently won her seat representing Delaware, is at the center of this controversial debate.

“We’re not going to have men in women’s bathrooms,” Johnson told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “I’ve been consistent about that with everyone I’ve spoken to.” 

While Johnson also emphasized treating all individuals with dignity and respect, he acknowledged this is an unprecedented issue for Congress. He promised a “deliberate” approach in addressing it, with consensus from House members.

The proposed resolution, introduced by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, seeks to ban lawmakers and Capitol employees from using restrooms that don’t align with their biological sex. Mace made clear that the measure is aimed directly at McBride.

“This is about protecting the privacy and safety of women,” Mace said. “I’m absolutely, 100% going to stand in the way of any man who wants to be in a women’s restroom, locker room, or changing room.” She added that Speaker Johnson assured her the provision would be included in any rule changes for the next Congress, stating, “If it’s not, I’ll be ready to pick up the mantle.”

The issue echoes broader national debates about transgender rights, particularly the use of bathrooms matching a person’s gender identity.

At least 11 states have enacted laws barring transgender individuals from using facilities that align with their gender identity in public schools and government facilities. The matter also became a prominent talking point during President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign.

Democrats, including McBride, have condemned the GOP effort, calling it a distraction from more pressing national issues. “This is a blatant attempt by far-right extremists to avoid addressing real problems Americans face,” McBride said. “We should be working to lower the costs of housing, health care, and child care—not manufacturing culture wars.”

Rep. Katherine Clark, the House Minority Whip, criticized Republicans for prioritizing this issue on day one of the new Congress.

“They’re focused on where one member out of 435 is going to use the bathroom? That’s their big agenda?” she said at a press conference.

McBride, an LGBTQ+ activist who raised over $3 million for her campaign, gained national attention in 2016 as the first openly transgender person to address a major political party convention

 After her historic election win, she stated, “Delawareans have shown time and again that we judge candidates based on their ideas, not their identities.”

However, conservative backlash has been fierce. A viral tweet criticized McBride, reading: “This dude who dresses up as a woman and won a Congressional seat is very mad that women don’t want him using the women’s restroom on Capitol Hill. Sarah McBride is male. He doesn’t belong in women’s bathrooms.”

The controversy highlights the sharp divisions in Congress over transgender rights and underscores how deeply these debates resonate in the broader cultural landscape. For McBride, her new role in Congress is already emblematic of the battles she will face both inside and outside the chamber.