The decision comes after Mike Johnson declared that transgender people are not allowed in bathrooms of their gender identity under the provision that he "controls the facilities."
Disappointed by the reactions to McBride's statement. I like her strategy here a lot. Let the bigots foam at the mouth while she stays focused on what she went there to do. It sends a message-- who's actually causing the problems here? Who is being reasonable? A lot of people (read: voters) only know trans people as the reactionary caricatures that are shown to them. Here we see reality: a woman just trying to live her life and do her damn job.
None of this indicates that any of us need to comply with bigotry in our daily lives. This is a very specific situation, though, and I feel like a different approach makes sense.
Edit: I'm too tired and sad to debate with everyone who comes along. Sorry.
When they start exclusively referring to her as a "man", "Mr.", deadnaming her etc, should she just put her head down and stay silent? Should she correct them or just embrace humiliation? When they shout about "these delusional men should be committed into insane asylums until they understand they are MEN and always have been and always will be" should just she say "yes, sir, Mr. Johnson sir, can we talk about gas prices"?
Like are you advocating for her to completely humiliate herself and stay silent, and for her to just be obedient in the face of genocidal hate? Bigots foaming at the mouth isn't harmless, it's the precursor to a FUCKING BITE. Foaming at the mouth is literally a sign of physical danger, in both animals and in fascists. Their goal is physical harm
My ex’s family insisted they would continue to use his deadname and female pronouns. When he began passing, the ludicrousness of it set in. They were using a female name and pronouns for someone who was visibly, undeniably a man. Not only that, but it took actual effort to misgender him after that because again, clearly a man. I hate that it might come to using male honorifics for her but damn, they will look stupid for trying to “sir” a woman.
I’m not saying it’s a great route but it sure will make them look stupid for trying.
where are you drawing the line? She should use the men's restroom but correct pronouns? Just completely abandon her identity as a woman and instead just submit to be a "male"? You think it'll stop there, that if she just allow people to refer to her as a "man" they'll suddenly treat her like a human? they want to ERADICATE us, they literally use this word.
Like tell me what your strategy is here, what is the benefit of being obedient to the fascists who believe we are literally sub-human and should be eliminated from society?
She's not showing weakness here. She's making a political choice. That's what this is. It's politics.
Please stop telling me what I think, guessing what I expect, or anything more than that. You are assuming a lot about my opinions from an extremely small amount of information. We're on the same side, can we not have a reasonable conversation with subtlety?
The house Republicans are putting on the show that they think their voters want to see. They WANT to goad her into a fight before she has a chance to establish herself as a policymaker. In my opinion, the best play here is to simply not give them what they want.
If this is indeed the slippery slope you're describing, that's an entirely different situation to address. For now, she's setting the rules of engagement. She's letting them dig their own graves.
No? She's conceding to them. If she did fight back a bit, the crackdown on her would look insane from an outside perspective. By giving up, she has allowed it to pass, and when the Republicans see that, they can use her as a model minority and say "Hey trans people, comply, this one does, so we're going to make it even worse for you if you don't." And it's only going to get worse for everyone, because conceding ground here is only going to lead to worse outcomes for her, for staffers working there, and every trans person working at every federal institution, and any trans person who needs to go to any federal institution. This is not about politics, this is about basic rights.
Maybe this is where her congressional allies can come in and act, and allow her the ability to focus on her new position. Part of me feels like her tactic of not taking their bait will garner sympathy from unexpected places. Perhaps we can take action on this on her behalf from the outside? This is where civil disobedience at the Capitol could happen. Let's all go and sit-in in the "wrong" bathroom...just brainstorming.
CONCEDING that trans women should be in the men's room isn't the last "show" that the republicans will perform for their voters. That's why we disagree. You APPARENTLY (unless I'm misreading) think feeding the beast of fascism little tastes of what it demands is a politically expedient move, and I do not. Conceding basic rights is NEVER the answer to fascism, it's literally what survivors of fascist governments warn us NOT to do. There will never be a line "too far" for the voters McBride and others are trying to appeal to. Do not comply in advance, period.
I suggest you take a look back at the variety of figures involved in the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s. There are many different strategies employed by different people in different situations. It takes all sorts.
I'm sorry, but we don't have time for "politics" when the question is "do we have human rights or not?" This isn't a game, it's people's lives. The Republicans have chosen to raise the stakes beyond politics, and we have to face them on that level. It shouldn't be that way, but they chose to make it that way.
the decision making process of a congressperson around this issue is going to be different from the decision making of another trans citizen. acknowledging that this might be the right decision for her at this political juncture, for optics reasons, is not the same thing as saying "we all should just lay down and take it"
I completely disagree. If someone as protected as a fucking US congressperson simply lays down and takes it, how on earth are rando trans people going to fight it? You think the "optics" will be better for someone with NO connections? She is clearly communicating that we should just abandon our dignity and do what the fascists tell us to do. You can make excuses about political strategies, but the reality is that this is just erosion, and there is NO effort from the dems to rebuild what has already crumbled.
I agree with Clara here - they have a trifecta, they'll do what they want anyways. She could get dragged into the kicking-and-screaming match that the right is asking for while the country is watching, or she can acquiesque and focus on her goals of supporting the common person. This may send a message of "despite personal attacks on my identity, I'm committed to helping my constituents instead of being distracted as my opponents are." I'm not sure what the right strategy here is, but this isn't the wrong one; the backlash from shouting at them with no legal back-up may have been worse than what they already have planned. At the end of the day, her constituents know her and respect her, and now they're watching her cooly letting the blows roll off her while she fights for them.
Don't get me wrong, as a transgirl I'd love to see her spit in their face before marching into the women's room where she clearly oughta be allowed, but I think this might show the cishets who voted for her and the ignorant, hateful ones that she's there to do a job, not be bullied into an identity conflict. I think that's a positive message. Instead of being politically crucified prior to taking office, she can get in there and show how silly it is for them to refer to a woman as Mr.; regardless of dress code, she'll still show up as herself, and we need this kind of exposure and position to do anything in the first place.
She's living to a fight another day. I'm certain she'll have a stopping point somewhere along the line of attacks, but for today, the threat of a trifecta is enough to keep her in the "separate but equal" bathrooms. She isn't being barred from Congress as a whole, and that means she's retaining her power. Hopefully it pans out for us in the end, but strap yourselves in - gonna be a long few years.
I agree, I think she's in a position where she needs to show that while the republicans are so focused on her gender, she's focused on the issues. The statement read to me as really powerful and I think it'll resonate with moderates in her state.
McBride cannot fight this by herself. For more information read Chris Geidner at Law Dork.
"Rep. Mark Pocan, the chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, questioned several aspects of the policy:
Speaker Johnson’s holier-than-thou decree to ban transgender people from using bathrooms that align with their identity is a cruel and unnecessary rule that puts countless staff, interns, and visitors to the
The House the United States Capitol at risk,” he said — noting the broad application it could have to all people, not just McBride.
“How will this even be enforced? Will the Sergeant at Arms post officers in bathrooms? Will everyone who works at the Capitol have to carry around their birth certificate or undergo a genetic test?” Pocan asked. “This policy isn’t going to protect anyone—but it is going to open the door to rampant abuse, harassment, and discrimination in the Capitol.”
Pocan also said on X that he has requested a meeting about the ban:
Rep. Mark Pocan @RepMarkPocan As Chair of the @EqualityCaucus , I requested a meeting with Speaker Johnson to discuss his bathroom ban and open his eyes to the reality that this policy is cruel, completely unenforceable, and opens the door for abuse, harassment, and discrimination in the halls of Congress."
It's not going to convince anybody of anything. All it does is provide an extremely prominent example of a trans person basically saying "it's OK misgender me, I don't mind". The people targetting us are not interested in reason or "optics", they are on a mission to destroy us.
She was sent there to protect the rights of her constituents, which includes trans people! Delaware is one of the more blue states, and it WILL come under attack. No representative is sent to congress to solve a single issue or for a single voter. By giving up her own dignity and refusing to stand up for trans people here, she's leaving part of her constituency behind... and it's the part that she is a member of herself!
At some point NO has to mean NO. These aren't just uneducated people soft disagreeing on a social issue. You can't placate people that want your eradication. The people who want us removed from society (or dead) do not care how "reasonable" we are as they lead us out. We will not survive if we keep letting them treat us this way. This is not a political disagreement anymore, this is a fight for our very lives.
The reality is going to be "See? Even [she] knows [she's] really a man!" Mace has already tweeted congratulations to her on International Men's Day. The only thing that will satisfy them is to agree that trans identity isn't real.
Everyone needs to accept that the next two years are going to be one huge pile of unbelievable excrement, and everything from now on is about the midterms.
Making sure the Republicans drown in (and swallow) their said excrement is the way to go.
I am so angry to see her cave in. She’s failing Tim Snyder’s first rule on opposing tyranny. And this after Rep. Jeffries came out swinging against this bathroom ban??? Seriously????😐🤬
There is no way for her to shoulder the weight of the entire war against transgender people. This is not just her burden. She is free to make decisions. It is everyone else’s burden, especially non-trans folks, especially people in positions of power and influence, to fight this battle at every opportunity and cost.I am so very happy she got elected.
I agree. ALL the Democrats in the House need to be the ones opposing this—not Sarah McBride. Michelle Vallet is trying to make a point about how she wants to be represented, but the reality is Mike Johnson is doing a horrific thing—and Vallet is angry at McBride! I’m hearing Sarah McBride being the one attacked by her own community. wtf?!? Johnson pulled off quite a coup with this one.
Ugh. I’m so sick at Mace’s last quote: “Sarah McBride’s promise to abide by Speaker Johnson's policy is a step toward acknowledging the rights of women everywhere”. The fury I feel is overwhelming. It’s the opposite. I want to cry and throw up.
Mace has revealed ITSELF to be an awful being. It's not JUST the belief, but the MEANNESS. I'm so so sorry for the transgender community. I feel sick inside and I'm just an ally, but I will not just be a keyboard warrior.
Literally in your Wikipedia source (the ultimate source of truth apparently, lmao) “Transgender women were assigned male at birth and have a female gender identity,[6] while intersex women have sex characteristics that do not fit typical notions of female biology”
I think you should try Colin Wright's experiment. I bet it wouldn't be that simple. Your brain might protest. But, hey, since you believe it SO MUCH that you have to post about it multiple times, go give it a shot and get back to us with your report.
Aw hun, I think you’re in the wrong place. You seem to be trying to convince a bunch of transgender people that we’re not real. The definition of yelling into the void, really. But go ahead, waste your energy getting mad and screaming and throwing fits about something that literally doesn’t affect you, at people who will continue to exist and have always existed. Get all that angry energy out. Keep yelling into that void. Because when you’re all done having a big boy tantrum, we’ll still be here. Always have been. Always will be.
And as has already been pointed out to you, yes, transgender women are women. Transgender men are men. Nothing you have claimed is a distinctive factor to the contrary ever really has been that
It's just you wish casting.
"Suck it up buttercups."
I realize you aren't very bright, but could you brainstorm with some of your fellow goons and come up with a non-stale line?
So “Steersman” what are you then? A creature like the one you call yourself? What not go by the name YOU were given at birth? BTW…Steersman in the “Dune” series was a human born in space and is a member of the Space Guild, navigating the spaceships without aid of a computer…or something like that…
I understand that she didn’t want to die on this hill at this particular time, but it will not stop. When they call her “MR.” Will she correct them when they call her “Mr”? The battle has come to her, and they will not stop until her humiliation is complete.
EXACTLY. The next step is to require male pronouns and honorifics, male dress code, etc. They will not stop until they break or humiliate her and her staffers.
"Separate but Equal" didn't work in segregation times, and that's exactly what this is.
Like…does the party have her back? If she said “hell no I’m a woman”, would the rest of the caucus make the majority’s life a living hell until they caved?
If not then…as disappointing as it may be it’s probably not fair to insist that McBride fight alone on this.
I have to wonder if defying the rules set by the House would be enough to get her expelled. The Republican caucus is certainly filled with enough ghouls to make that happen, and I'm sure they're waiting for any excuse. Walking into the "wrong" bathroom when someone like Nancy Mace is in there could easily result in a sexual harassment claim.
What would happen is the same thing that happened to the Republicans who wanted to carry guns on the House floor. They were fined, and it's a lot of money (it was tens of thousands for people like MTG). I'm guessing Rep McBride doesn't have that kind of money. She's been a rep-elect for just a couple of weeks. Maybe give her some time to organize, first.
I get that she's in a tight corner. Maybe there's a better game here though. Might be time for malicious compliance. She should hire some burly trans guys for her staff.
Malicious compliance across all trans aides, staffers and visitors is probably the way to go with this. Flood the men’s facilities with trans women and the women’s facilities with trans men.
When Republicans get uncomfortable (as they will, very quickly), smile sweetly and point out they can always use the unisex.
Yeah, I don't want to put Ms. McBride in any danger, or tell her what she should do, but personally, I would malicious compliance the heck out of this situation. I'd use the gym and shower next to Mike Johnson every day. If he really thinks I'm a man, there's no reason he should be uncomfortable about that, right?
This is such a sad day for the movement. I can only imagine how scary this is for Sarah, and how much incredible pressure she must be under, but it's sad that this will be the example that gets shown to the whole country. It's such a stark contrast with Zoey's incredible, inspiring bravery in the legislature, which strengthened a precedent of boldly fighting back! I hope our movement can elevate more leaders like Zoey who aren't afraid to stand strong in the face of massive pressures.
is the entire US an unmitigated loss? like, what is our actual strategy moving forward, as individual trans people with no political platforms. "Be gay, do crimes" and break bathroom laws etc and risk being throw into men's prisons to be v-coded? Quietly put our heads down and comply in advance with fascism? Go out in a blaze of glory against the people trying to hurt us (self defense) like the 2a fucks have been advocating for? Like please, what is the actual strategy here, politics aside? I literally just do not know
She’s taking the higher road. This way the Republican caucus won’t be able to simply remove her seat for violating the rules. I know everyone is viewing this as caving in, but it comes down to this or leave the House.
I do hope we can see some massive malicious compliance, the sort of thing that highlights exactly how foolish these rules are.
Picture hundreds of trans visitors to the Capitol complex, all visibly and persistently using the “correct” facilities to the discomfort of every cisgender Republican woman and man. How will Rep. Mace feel about a half-dozen burly men in “her” facilities?
Contact your Congressional representatives for your visit!
Now I’m wondering if the Speaker will demand that she wear a suit and tie in chambers or the Speaker’s Lobby.
“Speaker Mike Johnson confirming that she would be considered “a man” in House rules…”
Come swearing-in, will one of the usual Unspeakable Ones challenge on a trans-related matter, perhaps name, or wardrobe? I think McBride is up for the challenge, although it will be more prolonged than an afternoon with Posie Parker in her workplace.
Likely true, but Congresswoman-elect McBride has not yet been seated. She will have to get past challenges to even being seated. After that even if expulsion isn’t possible, the Speaker and cronies have a number of tools available, from censure and fines, to denying committee appointments (where much of the legislative work is actually done, and even refusing to recognize the member on the floor. None of this would help the Congresswoman, her state, her supporters, or trans folks.
I am just wondering what she was hearing behind the scenes from her fellow democrats. Did they push her to this? Did she have reason to believe they wouldn’t rally behind her? That’s the only explanation I have for this that doesn’t make me profoundly disappointed in Rep. McBride.
Well, watching what’s happening now—with Mace announcing plans to spread this across Washington—sure seems like no Democrats are going to stand up for her. They don’t have her back. So when we do anti-bullying in schools, do we focus on the target/victim fighting the fight alone? We teach school kids the solution is to stand up FOR EACH OTHER. The ones to blame are Johnson and his ilk, and the ones to fight are all McBride’s colleagues—and all of US!
Exactly - if she’s not feeling supported, then my outrage is first at the bullies (Johnson/Mace/etc) and second at those who are failing to stand with Rep. McBride. If she has no allies, then blaming her for doing what she needs to do to survive and work is inappropriate.
You know if the GOP is going from the perspective lf rules are rules, I wonder how feasible it would be to set up some sort of "sit in" so to speak where a sufficient number of transgender women went to use the mens restroom as a group during session breaks . . .
Disappointed by the reactions to McBride's statement. I like her strategy here a lot. Let the bigots foam at the mouth while she stays focused on what she went there to do. It sends a message-- who's actually causing the problems here? Who is being reasonable? A lot of people (read: voters) only know trans people as the reactionary caricatures that are shown to them. Here we see reality: a woman just trying to live her life and do her damn job.
None of this indicates that any of us need to comply with bigotry in our daily lives. This is a very specific situation, though, and I feel like a different approach makes sense.
Edit: I'm too tired and sad to debate with everyone who comes along. Sorry.
When they start exclusively referring to her as a "man", "Mr.", deadnaming her etc, should she just put her head down and stay silent? Should she correct them or just embrace humiliation? When they shout about "these delusional men should be committed into insane asylums until they understand they are MEN and always have been and always will be" should just she say "yes, sir, Mr. Johnson sir, can we talk about gas prices"?
Like are you advocating for her to completely humiliate herself and stay silent, and for her to just be obedient in the face of genocidal hate? Bigots foaming at the mouth isn't harmless, it's the precursor to a FUCKING BITE. Foaming at the mouth is literally a sign of physical danger, in both animals and in fascists. Their goal is physical harm
My ex’s family insisted they would continue to use his deadname and female pronouns. When he began passing, the ludicrousness of it set in. They were using a female name and pronouns for someone who was visibly, undeniably a man. Not only that, but it took actual effort to misgender him after that because again, clearly a man. I hate that it might come to using male honorifics for her but damn, they will look stupid for trying to “sir” a woman.
I’m not saying it’s a great route but it sure will make them look stupid for trying.
You're strawmanning the hell out of me here.
where are you drawing the line? She should use the men's restroom but correct pronouns? Just completely abandon her identity as a woman and instead just submit to be a "male"? You think it'll stop there, that if she just allow people to refer to her as a "man" they'll suddenly treat her like a human? they want to ERADICATE us, they literally use this word.
Like tell me what your strategy is here, what is the benefit of being obedient to the fascists who believe we are literally sub-human and should be eliminated from society?
She's not showing weakness here. She's making a political choice. That's what this is. It's politics.
Please stop telling me what I think, guessing what I expect, or anything more than that. You are assuming a lot about my opinions from an extremely small amount of information. We're on the same side, can we not have a reasonable conversation with subtlety?
The house Republicans are putting on the show that they think their voters want to see. They WANT to goad her into a fight before she has a chance to establish herself as a policymaker. In my opinion, the best play here is to simply not give them what they want.
If this is indeed the slippery slope you're describing, that's an entirely different situation to address. For now, she's setting the rules of engagement. She's letting them dig their own graves.
No? She's conceding to them. If she did fight back a bit, the crackdown on her would look insane from an outside perspective. By giving up, she has allowed it to pass, and when the Republicans see that, they can use her as a model minority and say "Hey trans people, comply, this one does, so we're going to make it even worse for you if you don't." And it's only going to get worse for everyone, because conceding ground here is only going to lead to worse outcomes for her, for staffers working there, and every trans person working at every federal institution, and any trans person who needs to go to any federal institution. This is not about politics, this is about basic rights.
Maybe this is where her congressional allies can come in and act, and allow her the ability to focus on her new position. Part of me feels like her tactic of not taking their bait will garner sympathy from unexpected places. Perhaps we can take action on this on her behalf from the outside? This is where civil disobedience at the Capitol could happen. Let's all go and sit-in in the "wrong" bathroom...just brainstorming.
100%
CONCEDING that trans women should be in the men's room isn't the last "show" that the republicans will perform for their voters. That's why we disagree. You APPARENTLY (unless I'm misreading) think feeding the beast of fascism little tastes of what it demands is a politically expedient move, and I do not. Conceding basic rights is NEVER the answer to fascism, it's literally what survivors of fascist governments warn us NOT to do. There will never be a line "too far" for the voters McBride and others are trying to appeal to. Do not comply in advance, period.
I suggest you take a look back at the variety of figures involved in the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s. There are many different strategies employed by different people in different situations. It takes all sorts.
"For now, she's setting the rules of engagement."
No, she is letting them set them.
I'm sorry, but we don't have time for "politics" when the question is "do we have human rights or not?" This isn't a game, it's people's lives. The Republicans have chosen to raise the stakes beyond politics, and we have to face them on that level. It shouldn't be that way, but they chose to make it that way.
the decision making process of a congressperson around this issue is going to be different from the decision making of another trans citizen. acknowledging that this might be the right decision for her at this political juncture, for optics reasons, is not the same thing as saying "we all should just lay down and take it"
I completely disagree. If someone as protected as a fucking US congressperson simply lays down and takes it, how on earth are rando trans people going to fight it? You think the "optics" will be better for someone with NO connections? She is clearly communicating that we should just abandon our dignity and do what the fascists tell us to do. You can make excuses about political strategies, but the reality is that this is just erosion, and there is NO effort from the dems to rebuild what has already crumbled.
I agree with Clara here - they have a trifecta, they'll do what they want anyways. She could get dragged into the kicking-and-screaming match that the right is asking for while the country is watching, or she can acquiesque and focus on her goals of supporting the common person. This may send a message of "despite personal attacks on my identity, I'm committed to helping my constituents instead of being distracted as my opponents are." I'm not sure what the right strategy here is, but this isn't the wrong one; the backlash from shouting at them with no legal back-up may have been worse than what they already have planned. At the end of the day, her constituents know her and respect her, and now they're watching her cooly letting the blows roll off her while she fights for them.
Don't get me wrong, as a transgirl I'd love to see her spit in their face before marching into the women's room where she clearly oughta be allowed, but I think this might show the cishets who voted for her and the ignorant, hateful ones that she's there to do a job, not be bullied into an identity conflict. I think that's a positive message. Instead of being politically crucified prior to taking office, she can get in there and show how silly it is for them to refer to a woman as Mr.; regardless of dress code, she'll still show up as herself, and we need this kind of exposure and position to do anything in the first place.
She's living to a fight another day. I'm certain she'll have a stopping point somewhere along the line of attacks, but for today, the threat of a trifecta is enough to keep her in the "separate but equal" bathrooms. She isn't being barred from Congress as a whole, and that means she's retaining her power. Hopefully it pans out for us in the end, but strap yourselves in - gonna be a long few years.
We'll see what happens when Republicans start insisting on male honorifics and using male pronouns. Because you know it's coming.
I agree, I think she's in a position where she needs to show that while the republicans are so focused on her gender, she's focused on the issues. The statement read to me as really powerful and I think it'll resonate with moderates in her state.
Trans rights IS one of the issues! She is literally caving on one of the issues she was elected to fight for, before even taking her seat!
McBride cannot fight this by herself. For more information read Chris Geidner at Law Dork.
"Rep. Mark Pocan, the chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, questioned several aspects of the policy:
Speaker Johnson’s holier-than-thou decree to ban transgender people from using bathrooms that align with their identity is a cruel and unnecessary rule that puts countless staff, interns, and visitors to the
The House the United States Capitol at risk,” he said — noting the broad application it could have to all people, not just McBride.
“How will this even be enforced? Will the Sergeant at Arms post officers in bathrooms? Will everyone who works at the Capitol have to carry around their birth certificate or undergo a genetic test?” Pocan asked. “This policy isn’t going to protect anyone—but it is going to open the door to rampant abuse, harassment, and discrimination in the Capitol.”
Pocan also said on X that he has requested a meeting about the ban:
Rep. Mark Pocan @RepMarkPocan As Chair of the @EqualityCaucus , I requested a meeting with Speaker Johnson to discuss his bathroom ban and open his eyes to the reality that this policy is cruel, completely unenforceable, and opens the door for abuse, harassment, and discrimination in the halls of Congress."
It's not going to convince anybody of anything. All it does is provide an extremely prominent example of a trans person basically saying "it's OK misgender me, I don't mind". The people targetting us are not interested in reason or "optics", they are on a mission to destroy us.
And I think she should refuse to comply and carry on with every other function she has. Make them escalate if they dare.
She was sent there to protect the rights of her constituents, which includes trans people! Delaware is one of the more blue states, and it WILL come under attack. No representative is sent to congress to solve a single issue or for a single voter. By giving up her own dignity and refusing to stand up for trans people here, she's leaving part of her constituency behind... and it's the part that she is a member of herself!
At some point NO has to mean NO. These aren't just uneducated people soft disagreeing on a social issue. You can't placate people that want your eradication. The people who want us removed from society (or dead) do not care how "reasonable" we are as they lead us out. We will not survive if we keep letting them treat us this way. This is not a political disagreement anymore, this is a fight for our very lives.
The reality is going to be "See? Even [she] knows [she's] really a man!" Mace has already tweeted congratulations to her on International Men's Day. The only thing that will satisfy them is to agree that trans identity isn't real.
I'm not dreaming about cis accomplices joining in on flooding "the other" bathroom in solidarity, YOU are.
Meanwhile we get left in the dust
I agree.
Everyone needs to accept that the next two years are going to be one huge pile of unbelievable excrement, and everything from now on is about the midterms.
Making sure the Republicans drown in (and swallow) their said excrement is the way to go.
She gave an inch, they're going to take a 1000 miles now
I am so angry to see her cave in. She’s failing Tim Snyder’s first rule on opposing tyranny. And this after Rep. Jeffries came out swinging against this bathroom ban??? Seriously????😐🤬
There is no way for her to shoulder the weight of the entire war against transgender people. This is not just her burden. She is free to make decisions. It is everyone else’s burden, especially non-trans folks, especially people in positions of power and influence, to fight this battle at every opportunity and cost.I am so very happy she got elected.
I agree. ALL the Democrats in the House need to be the ones opposing this—not Sarah McBride. Michelle Vallet is trying to make a point about how she wants to be represented, but the reality is Mike Johnson is doing a horrific thing—and Vallet is angry at McBride! I’m hearing Sarah McBride being the one attacked by her own community. wtf?!? Johnson pulled off quite a coup with this one.
Every Democrat should be ashamed. I have never been this ashamed to be a Democrat.
Their silence is deafening. :(
She's right to take the high road. Our community must stand together to stop this.
She was sent to Congress to legislate for the citizens of Delaware. Let her do her job. Johnson and Mace will get theirs.
Ugh. I’m so sick at Mace’s last quote: “Sarah McBride’s promise to abide by Speaker Johnson's policy is a step toward acknowledging the rights of women everywhere”. The fury I feel is overwhelming. It’s the opposite. I want to cry and throw up.
Mace has revealed ITSELF to be an awful being. It's not JUST the belief, but the MEANNESS. I'm so so sorry for the transgender community. I feel sick inside and I'm just an ally, but I will not just be a keyboard warrior.
You are the sort that has pointy white hoods you are afraid to wear in public.
It is all only on you it is an accurate analogy.
No, of the two of use I'm only one with any evidence here.
She is of female gender and an human adult -- so she is an adult human female.
That is all that matters from the other counter examples of a Platocic ideal which you are deluded into thinking is real.
Literally in your Wikipedia source (the ultimate source of truth apparently, lmao) “Transgender women were assigned male at birth and have a female gender identity,[6] while intersex women have sex characteristics that do not fit typical notions of female biology”
And what is "female", asshole? Oh, that's right, also in Merriam-Webster:
"Having a gender identity that is the opposite of male".
And they claim they have evidence . . .
I think you should try Colin Wright's experiment. I bet it wouldn't be that simple. Your brain might protest. But, hey, since you believe it SO MUCH that you have to post about it multiple times, go give it a shot and get back to us with your report.
Female "sex" has nothing to do with it and never has, because people without a female sex have always been women based on mere appearances.
Colin Wight simply has no idea what they are talking about. In that case they would become a very, very unhappy man with a female sex.
Someone’s got their trans porn-loving panties in a bunch.
Why wouldn't women tend to wear women's underwear?
Aw hun, I think you’re in the wrong place. You seem to be trying to convince a bunch of transgender people that we’re not real. The definition of yelling into the void, really. But go ahead, waste your energy getting mad and screaming and throwing fits about something that literally doesn’t affect you, at people who will continue to exist and have always existed. Get all that angry energy out. Keep yelling into that void. Because when you’re all done having a big boy tantrum, we’ll still be here. Always have been. Always will be.
And as has already been pointed out to you, yes, transgender women are women. Transgender men are men. Nothing you have claimed is a distinctive factor to the contrary ever really has been that
It's just you wish casting.
"Suck it up buttercups."
I realize you aren't very bright, but could you brainstorm with some of your fellow goons and come up with a non-stale line?
So “Steersman” what are you then? A creature like the one you call yourself? What not go by the name YOU were given at birth? BTW…Steersman in the “Dune” series was a human born in space and is a member of the Space Guild, navigating the spaceships without aid of a computer…or something like that…
I understand that she didn’t want to die on this hill at this particular time, but it will not stop. When they call her “MR.” Will she correct them when they call her “Mr”? The battle has come to her, and they will not stop until her humiliation is complete.
EXACTLY. The next step is to require male pronouns and honorifics, male dress code, etc. They will not stop until they break or humiliate her and her staffers.
"Separate but Equal" didn't work in segregation times, and that's exactly what this is.
It's hilarious that you paid Erin Reed money just so you can be an annoying bigot, lmao. Thanks for the donation to the cause!
No scare quotes !mb3c!l3. The ex of a person is not what makes anyone a man or a woman -- and it has been that way for all of humanity's existence.
So wait other women who don’t have functional ovaries are… what gender then? 😂
They really are that stupid.
What a bizarre response. I'm surprised you felt comfortable saying this out loud.
And what makes someone a woman or a man is how their gender developed.
Testicles and ovaries are incidental to the matter -- as other examples prove, like de la Chapelle and CAIS.
Colin Wight simply has no idea what they are talking about. In that case they would become a very, very unhappy man with a female sex.
Fuck off ignorant bigot.
I’m so furious and heartbroken that McBride is even being put in the position to have to make this kind of choice
Like…does the party have her back? If she said “hell no I’m a woman”, would the rest of the caucus make the majority’s life a living hell until they caved?
If not then…as disappointing as it may be it’s probably not fair to insist that McBride fight alone on this.
This is heartbreaking.
And stupefying. I don’t get it at all.
Why would she even comply with him. Why lay down and let them win?
I have to wonder if defying the rules set by the House would be enough to get her expelled. The Republican caucus is certainly filled with enough ghouls to make that happen, and I'm sure they're waiting for any excuse. Walking into the "wrong" bathroom when someone like Nancy Mace is in there could easily result in a sexual harassment claim.
What would happen is the same thing that happened to the Republicans who wanted to carry guns on the House floor. They were fined, and it's a lot of money (it was tens of thousands for people like MTG). I'm guessing Rep McBride doesn't have that kind of money. She's been a rep-elect for just a couple of weeks. Maybe give her some time to organize, first.
No, a 2/3rds majority is required to expel a member.
So every Republican plus about 1/3 of the Democratic caucus? Not a particularly high bar for this country.
No, I don't think they'd get that 1/3rd of Democrats. At all.
I get that she's in a tight corner. Maybe there's a better game here though. Might be time for malicious compliance. She should hire some burly trans guys for her staff.
Malicious compliance across all trans aides, staffers and visitors is probably the way to go with this. Flood the men’s facilities with trans women and the women’s facilities with trans men.
When Republicans get uncomfortable (as they will, very quickly), smile sweetly and point out they can always use the unisex.
Yeah, I don't want to put Ms. McBride in any danger, or tell her what she should do, but personally, I would malicious compliance the heck out of this situation. I'd use the gym and shower next to Mike Johnson every day. If he really thinks I'm a man, there's no reason he should be uncomfortable about that, right?
This is such a sad day for the movement. I can only imagine how scary this is for Sarah, and how much incredible pressure she must be under, but it's sad that this will be the example that gets shown to the whole country. It's such a stark contrast with Zoey's incredible, inspiring bravery in the legislature, which strengthened a precedent of boldly fighting back! I hope our movement can elevate more leaders like Zoey who aren't afraid to stand strong in the face of massive pressures.
is the entire US an unmitigated loss? like, what is our actual strategy moving forward, as individual trans people with no political platforms. "Be gay, do crimes" and break bathroom laws etc and risk being throw into men's prisons to be v-coded? Quietly put our heads down and comply in advance with fascism? Go out in a blaze of glory against the people trying to hurt us (self defense) like the 2a fucks have been advocating for? Like please, what is the actual strategy here, politics aside? I literally just do not know
Malicious compliance. Trans men use women’s spaces; trans women use men’s. Embarrass the hell out of them until they grow up.
Yeah, when I visited Kansas, I obeyed the bathroom bill. One guy thought he was in the wrong bathroom when he saw me, and left.
She’s taking the higher road. This way the Republican caucus won’t be able to simply remove her seat for violating the rules. I know everyone is viewing this as caving in, but it comes down to this or leave the House.
I do hope we can see some massive malicious compliance, the sort of thing that highlights exactly how foolish these rules are.
Picture hundreds of trans visitors to the Capitol complex, all visibly and persistently using the “correct” facilities to the discomfort of every cisgender Republican woman and man. How will Rep. Mace feel about a half-dozen burly men in “her” facilities?
Contact your Congressional representatives for your visit!
Now I’m wondering if the Speaker will demand that she wear a suit and tie in chambers or the Speaker’s Lobby.
“Speaker Mike Johnson confirming that she would be considered “a man” in House rules…”
Come swearing-in, will one of the usual Unspeakable Ones challenge on a trans-related matter, perhaps name, or wardrobe? I think McBride is up for the challenge, although it will be more prolonged than an afternoon with Posie Parker in her workplace.
It is already true they cannot remove her for disobeying any such rule. They need 2/3rds of the house to do so and they won't be getting that.
Likely true, but Congresswoman-elect McBride has not yet been seated. She will have to get past challenges to even being seated. After that even if expulsion isn’t possible, the Speaker and cronies have a number of tools available, from censure and fines, to denying committee appointments (where much of the legislative work is actually done, and even refusing to recognize the member on the floor. None of this would help the Congresswoman, her state, her supporters, or trans folks.
I am just wondering what she was hearing behind the scenes from her fellow democrats. Did they push her to this? Did she have reason to believe they wouldn’t rally behind her? That’s the only explanation I have for this that doesn’t make me profoundly disappointed in Rep. McBride.
Well, watching what’s happening now—with Mace announcing plans to spread this across Washington—sure seems like no Democrats are going to stand up for her. They don’t have her back. So when we do anti-bullying in schools, do we focus on the target/victim fighting the fight alone? We teach school kids the solution is to stand up FOR EACH OTHER. The ones to blame are Johnson and his ilk, and the ones to fight are all McBride’s colleagues—and all of US!
Exactly - if she’s not feeling supported, then my outrage is first at the bullies (Johnson/Mace/etc) and second at those who are failing to stand with Rep. McBride. If she has no allies, then blaming her for doing what she needs to do to survive and work is inappropriate.
You know if the GOP is going from the perspective lf rules are rules, I wonder how feasible it would be to set up some sort of "sit in" so to speak where a sufficient number of transgender women went to use the mens restroom as a group during session breaks . . .
AND cis accomplices.
They sure didn't care about the rules when they refused to comply with mask rules.
Looking at you, Marge.