Bathrooms designated for men and women in the Capitol can only be used by people of their biological sex, House Speaker Mike Johnson has decided. This is a reaction to the election of Sara McBride, who in January will become the first transgender person to serve in Congress. “We should focus on lowering the costs of housing, health care and child care, not creating culture wars,” McBride urges.
“All single-sex spaces in the Capitol buildings and House of Representatives office buildings — such as restrooms, locker rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote. “Women deserve women-only spaces,” he added.
Johnson's statement follows the debate sparked by the election of Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride to the House of Representatives. She is the first transgender person in the history of Congress.
House Speaker Mike JohnsonJIM LO SCALZO/PAP/EPA
In response, South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace introduced a bill to ban transgender women from using women's bathrooms in the Capitol. Mace also taped signs to the bathroom doors saying they were for “biological” women.
“We should be focused on lowering the costs of housing, health care and child care, not creating culture wars,” McBride wrote in response.
Rules for the use of rooms in the Capitol and those belonging to the House of Representatives are the responsibility of the Speaker of the House. In his statement, Mike Johnson said that transgender people can use unisex bathrooms and that all members of Congress have separate restrooms in their offices.
After this year's elections in USA Republicans have a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Main photo source: JIM LO SCALZO/PAP/EPA