Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced Wednesday that transgender women are not permitted to use bathrooms in the Capitol that match their gender identity, taking a stance on the hot-button issue t…

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Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced Wednesday that transgender women are not permitted to use bathrooms in the Capitol that match their gender identity

The policy […] will also apply to bathrooms in House office buildings, changing rooms and locker rooms.

Johnson’s statement — which was made on Transgender Day of Remembrance, recognized annually to memorialize trans people who died due to anti-trans violence — comes days after Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) introduced a bill to bar transgender women from facilities on Capitol Hill that match their gender identity, a response to the election earlier this month of Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.).

McBride blasted Mace’s legislation earlier this week, calling it “a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing.”

Mace was threatening to force a vote on the matter prior to Johnson’s decision to formally announce the new policy; the congresswoman wanted the terms to be included in the rules package for the 119th Congress and said she would force a vote on the bill if that did not come to fruition.

  • UrLogicFails@beehaw.orgOPEnglish
    45·
    3 days ago

    This is especially vile to announce on Transgender Day of Remembrance; but I have no doubt in my mind that it was intentional.

    This feels like a move made with the explicit purpose of hurting people as much as possible. (“The cruelty is the point.”)

    To my knowledge, there is no legal recourse for this, but I am not a lawyer, so I could be wrong…

    I know it likely won’t do much, but I do recommend calling your representatives. I asked mine to issue a statement saying that they will not be party to enforcing this rule. I hope they issue such a statement of solidarity soon 🤞

    • BertramDitore@lemm.eeEnglish
      11·
      3 days ago

      Time to put the Capitol Switchboard on speed dial, gonna be calling them a lot these next few years.

      For those who don’t know, here’s the switchboard number:

      202-224-3121

      Call, tell them where you live, and they’ll connect you to your representative’s constituent services. It’ll only take you a few minutes, but they keep track of every call. It matters.

      • UrLogicFails@beehaw.orgOPEnglish
        6·
        3 days ago

        I usually try to call my Representative and Senators during my commute. The only tricky part is remembering the bill numbers.

        I have the distinct impression I’m going to have something to say to them every day over the next four years…