US House speaker backs bathroom ban on trans woman elected to Congress / Photo: Allison ROBBERT - AFP
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US House speaker backs bathroom ban on trans woman elected to Congress
The speaker of the US House of Representatives came out Wednesday against letting a newly elected transgender woman use the women's restroom at the legislature.
"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," Mike Johnson, leader of the Republican majority in the chamber, said in a statement.
Johnson's remarks come after Democrat Sarah McBride's election as the first openly transgender member of Congress this month.
She has received a cold welcome from her conservative colleagues.
Earlier this week, Representative Nancy Mace, a staunch ally of President-elect Donald Trump, introduced a resolution that would ban transgender women from using female restrooms in the Capitol.
The fiery South Carolina congresswoman said "biological men do not belong in private women's spaces. Period. Full stop. End of story," in a post on X.
On Wednesday, Mace doubled down, introducing legislation that would apply the rule to all federal property.
Transgender rights are a hot-button issue in the United States -- with the participation of trans people in competitive sports and the subject of access to gender-affirming care for minors triggering fiery debate.
Democrats and LGBTQ advocates largely denounced Mace's effort, categorizing it as an attack on the dignity of trans people.
Asked Tuesday about the measure, Johnson had initially deflected, telling reporters: "This is an issue that Congress has never had to address before, and we're going to do that in deliberate fashion with member consensus."
McBride -- who along with the rest of Congress will be sworn in on January 3 -- said Wednesday she would comply with the rules set out by Johnson, "even if I disagree with them."
"Each of us were sent here because voters saw something in us that they value," she said on social media.
"I look forward to seeing those qualities in every member come January. I hope all my colleagues will seek to do the same with me."
Johnson suggested in his statement that McBride would be limited to using the Capitol's unisex bathrooms or the bathroom in her office.
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