Transgender individuals will not be allowed to use restrooms that correspond to their gender identity near the House chamber, according to a policy reinstated Friday by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana). The controversial policy was included in the 119th Congress’ list of rules and formally approved. recorded in the Congressional Recorda daily record of legislative proceedings.
However, this policy house rules package It was approved during the House’s first session on Friday. The rules for the session primarily addressed other procedural issues, but did not specifically address restroom policy.
According to the policy, all gender-segregated facilities, such as restrooms, locker rooms, and locker rooms, would be designated for individual use based on biological sex. As detailed in the Congressional Record, the measure applies to areas of the Capitol under the control of the Speaker, including the House chamber, hallways and other rooms assigned to the House.
The policy will be enforced by the Capitol Sergeant-at-Arms and affects numerous facilities within the House jurisdiction of the Capitol. The Congressional Record also revealed that each member’s office has its own private restroom, and that unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol complex, providing an alternative to restricted facilities.
The ban comes after Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R.S.C. It stems from the initial proposal submitted. Mace’s proposal is a direct response to McBride’s election, vowing to fight any efforts to allow transgender women into women’s bathrooms and locker rooms.
Mace spoke out against transgender people using facilities based on their gender identity. Even though McBride is a woman and a member of the organization, she “absolutely 100 percent gets in the way of men who want to go into the women’s restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms,” she said at the time. meeting. Mace also said he would work to introduce legislation to codify this bathroom policy.
Johnson endorsed Mace’s initiative when it was first introduced, stressing that women need women-only spaces. “Women should be given their own spaces,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in November.
Congressman Mace reiterated his position Friday, confirming that he will push for legislation to codify bathroom policy in Congress. Although the issue has not yet been enacted into law, Mr Mace argues that the policy has been effectively implemented since Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his support for it in the autumn.
For McBride, bathroom policy distracts from more important issues, especially those related to economic inequality and climate change. McBride said in a statement. expressed disappointment He added that the Republican Party remains focused on these issues, saying, “There are some in the Republican caucus who are trying to use my accomplishments representing the largest state in Congress as an opportunity to distract Congress. I always knew it would happen,” he added. The fact that there are no real policy solutions to the problems that actually plague this country. ”
McBride, who represents Delaware in Congress, was not surprised by the policy but expressed disappointment with its timing. “I wasn’t surprised that there was an effort to politicize an issue that no one really cares about, which bathroom I use,” McBride said. “I thought we might wait until January. It happened a little sooner than I expected.”
A spokesperson for Mr. McBride declined to comment further on Mr. Johnson’s policies.
In recent years, anti-transgender rhetoric has become more prevalent in some parts of the Republican Party, especially during elections. But despite this focus, former President Donald Trump recently downplayed the issue, agreeing with McBride that lawmakers should focus on other issues.
“I agree with that, of course,” Trump said in a recent interview. time magazine. “I don’t want to get involved in the toilet issue because we’re talking about a very small number of people and it’s tearing our country apart, and they’re not what the law ultimately agrees to. Because whatever it is, we have to solve it.”
Despite McBride’s objections, the policy is expected to remain in place unless further changes are made in Congress. With partisan divisions still prevalent, this issue is likely to remain a hot topic in future legislative debates.
Source: Gayety – gayety.co
