House Speaker Mike Johnson is under criticism for telling the press, “A man is a man, and a woman is a woman. And a man cannot be a woman.”
“A man is a man, and a woman is a woman, and a man cannot become a woman.” –@SpeakerJohnson pic.twitter.com/KD3UZGZz9H
— Billboard Chris ???????????????? (@BillboardChris) November 19, 2024
Johnson made this statement to the press to clarify an earlier response to a reporter, who asked him about the gender identity of Delaware Democrat Representative-elect Sarah McBride, the first elected member of Congress to identify as transgender.
“I rejected the premise because the answer is so obvious,” Johnson said. “I also believe that’s what Scripture teaches … but I also believe that we treat everybody with dignity.”
The question about McBride arose during the House Republican leadership conference, where Johnson was joined by Republican Reps. Tom Emmer, Blake Moore, and Steve Scalise to discuss various pieces of legislation, including FEMA funding and removing taxes on American hostages, among other priorities.
In his initial response to McBride’s gender identity, Johnson told the reporter, “Look, I’m not going to get into this. We welcome all new members with open arms who are duly elected representatives of the people.”
“It’s a command that we treat all persons with dignity and response, and we will, and I’m not going to engage in silly debates about this,” Johnson continued.
In light of McBride becoming the newest member of Congress, Rep. Nancy Mace introduced a resolution on Monday that would ban people who identify as transgender from using restrooms that are not their biological sex.
Biological men do not belong in private women’s spaces. Period. Full stop. End of story. pic.twitter.com/IhR7kExkBU
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) November 18, 2024
Responding to Mace’s resolution, McBride posted on X, “Every day Americans go to work with people who have life journeys different than their own and engage with them respectfully. I hope members of Congress can muster that same kindness.”
“This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing. We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars,” McBride continued.
Since announcing the resolution, Mace has been addressing criticism from McBride and others who have deemed her an extremist. In a video of her walking through the Capitol underground with a coffee in hand, Mace stated, “If being a feminist makes me an extremist or a bigot or a monster, I am totally here for it.”
The Radical Left would rather call me an extremist than admit they are wrong. pic.twitter.com/FJb7MQoxqo
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) November 19, 2024
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene weighed in on the issue on Real America’s Voice, referring to Sarah McBride by his former name, Tim McBride. “It’s time for men in this country to defend women from the sick, mentally ill men,” Greene said.
Greene told Real America’s Voice that Johnson had assured her that there would be no biological males in women’s restrooms.
READ MORE:
Dissatisfied Democrats Voice Frustrations With Party Line on Transgender Issues
Meta’s Oversight Board Threatens Women’s Right to Sex-Based Protections