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A look at the attention-seeking political gamesmanship of the South Carolina congresswoman that will lead to real people getting hurt.
Republican South Carolina U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace is pushing two controversial measures that aim to restrict bathroom access for transgender individuals, igniting a national debate about LGBTQ+ rights and the growing divide on Capitol Hill. Critics argue that these efforts are part of a broader Republican strategy to manufacture culture wars and distract from pressing issues.
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The first measure, introduced earlier this week, directly targets Capitol Hill. The resolution would bar transgender women, particularly newly elected Delaware U.S. Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, from using women’s restrooms and other single-sex facilities in the House of Representatives. This unprecedented move comes just days after McBride made history by winning her election to become the first out transgender member of Congress. Enforcement of the resolution would fall to House Sergeant-at-Arms William McFarland, but details on how it would be implemented remain unclear. Similar state-level bathroom bans have relied on anonymous complaints.
Mace’s second proposal is even broader in scope. It’s a federal bill that seeks to restrict access to all single-sex facilities on federal property, including post offices, military bases, and government buildings. Under the legislation, people would be required to use facilities that correspond to their “biological sex.” While the bill includes narrow exceptions for emergency responders and law enforcement, it provides no practical guidance on enforcement, raising concerns about privacy and the potential for invasive policing of restroom use.
These measures have sparked widespread criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates, civil rights groups, and Democratic lawmakers. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania responded to the Capitol Hill bathroom ban by offering his own office’s bathroom to anyone, including McBride. Arizona Democratic U.S. Rep.-elect Yassamin Ansari highlighted the absurdity of the ban by sharing a graphic listing the numerous single-use, private restrooms already available on Capitol Hill.
“Hate that we have to do this, but a good reference of trans-friendly bathrooms in the Capitol complex for staff and interns most harmed and impacted by Nancy Mace’s actions,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argued that Mace’s efforts endanger all women by creating a culture of suspicion and potential harassment.
“What Nancy Mace and what Speaker Johnson are doing are endangering all women and girls. Because if you ask them, ‘What is your plan on how to enforce this?’ they won’t come up with an answer,” Ocasio-Cortez said to reporters on Wednesday. “What it inevitably results in are women and girls who are primed for assault because they want, because people are going to want to check their private parts in suspecting who is trans and who is cis.”
Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky echoed this concern, calling the measures absurd and warning that they would disproportionately harm vulnerable individuals. During an appearance on MSNBC, Roginsky also criticized Mace’s apparent political opportunism, noting her previous public support for LGBTQ+ rights.
Mace’s actions align with broader Republican efforts to target transgender rights as part of their political strategy. During the 2024 elections, the GOP frequently used transgender issues in campaign ads, including attacks from President-elect Donald Trump against Vice President Kamala Harris. Republicans see these tactics as politically effective, even as they perpetuate harmful stereotypes and deepen divisions.
Critics, however, see these moves as distractions from real issues. McBride, who campaigned on lowering the cost of housing and health care, dismissed Mace’s proposals as cynical attempts to manufacture culture wars.
“Delawareans sent me here to make the American dream more affordable and accessible,” McBride said. “We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars.”
The measures have raised significant questions about enforcement. Without clear guidelines, critics warn that the proposals could create a chilling effect for transgender individuals and anyone who doesn’t conform to traditional gender norms. The Washington Post reports that similar bathroom restrictions could extend beyond Capitol Hill to public schools and federal agencies in Washington, D.C.
While the federal bathroom ban faces an uncertain future, Mace is working to ensure the Capitol Hill bathroom restrictions are included in the 119th Congress’s rules package. If leadership does not act, she has threatened to force a vote on the measure, which would require action within two legislative days.
