In a widely circulated video clip, Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene was seen repeatedly using the wrong pronouns for Delaware state Senator Sarah McBride, who is a transgender woman.
On Monday, a reporter asked Greene for her thoughts on a resolution put forth by fellow Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace. The resolution aims to prohibit transgender women from using women’s bathrooms at the U.S. Capitol. This proposal comes as Sarah McBride prepares to make history as the first openly transgender member of Congress in Washington, D.C.
In a video interview shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Georgia Republican repeatedly refers to McBride as “a man” and uses the pronoun “he.”
Newsweek reached out to the offices of Greene and McBride for comment via email, outside of standard working hours. Manríquez asked Greene in the video if she would back Mace’s resolution.
In response, Greene expressed her support for a resolution that aims to prevent biological men from accessing women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, and private spaces. She emphasized the need for this resolution to be implemented not only within the Capitol complex and office buildings but also in all taxpayer-funded facilities.
During the interview, Greene was questioned about how to determine if someone is eligible to use the women’s restroom, especially with the presence of a transgender member in Congress.
According to Greene, the individual in question is a man, biologically male. As a result, he is not permitted to utilize the facilities designated for women, including restrooms, gyms, locker rooms, and other spaces.
According to Greene, the individual in question is biologically male and has various options available to them. During the interview, Greene was questioned about the idea of implementing gender-neutral bathrooms.
“No,” Greene replied. “He has the option to use the men’s room and he also has a bathroom in his office, just like the rest of us.” She mentioned, “I usually use the restroom in my office. He has a dedicated bathroom for himself.”
According to a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2022, approximately 40% of Americans expressed the belief that transgender individuals should be obligated to use public restrooms that align with the gender assigned to them at birth.
Numerous studies and reviews have consistently found no substantiated evidence to validate the assertion that transgender women or individuals present a heightened threat to safety in bathrooms. In the video, Greene expressed her belief that transgender rights played a significant role in the outcome of the election.
According to her, President-elect Donald Trump’s victory was a clear indication that the American people are not only tired of open borders, inflation, and a struggling economy, but also of the left imposing their transgender ideology on society. She expressed her frustration with the invasion of spaces and women’s sports by this ideology.
Anti-trans sentiment has been increasing over the past few years, as Republican governors have implemented numerous laws in their respective states that limit the healthcare choices, sports participation, and access to public restrooms for transgender individuals.
During the election campaign, Trump extensively criticized the Democrats on transgender matters. He deployed anti-transgender advertisements that were omnipresent by Election Day. One such ad emphasized the contrast between Kamala’s support for the use of “they/them” pronouns and Trump’s focus on individual concerns, stating, “Kamala is for they/them; President Trump is for you.”
According to the Associated Press, Trump and Republicans spent a total of $215 million on anti-transgender advertising, with the 30-second spot being a part of it, as reported by tracking firm AdImpact.
According to a post-election survey conducted by AP, it was found that 55 percent of all Americans, and a staggering 85 percent of Trump voters, believe that government support for transgender rights has exceeded its limits.
In a Monday night video, Greene addressed a sensitive question and provided a direct response. She acknowledged the discomfort of the question but emphasized the importance of addressing it. Greene stated that the American people expressed their dissatisfaction through the election process.
She emphasized the need for McBride, who was elected to Congress in Delaware, to respect her personal space, privacy, and the privacy of other women. Greene highlighted the fact that McBride is not a woman, and therefore should be mindful of boundaries.
McBride expressed in a recent post on X that it is essential for Americans to interact respectfully with their colleagues at work, regardless of their diverse life experiences. In the same vein, McBride hopes that members of Congress can also embody this kindness and treat one another with respect.
She added that this is an obvious ploy by far right-wing extremists to divert attention from their lack of real solutions to the challenges Americans are currently facing.