The Bathrooms of the Capitol Are Now Unsafe Spaces

The New York Times ^ | Nov. 20, 2024 | Anna Marks

[E. Pluribus Unum]

It only took two weeks after Election Day for House Republicans to bully Representative-elect Sarah McBride of Delaware, who will become the first openly transgender member of Congress in January.

On Monday an exhausting Republican from South Carolina, Representative Nancy Mace, announced plans to introduce a measure that would bar McBride and any other trans women working in the Capitol from using women’s restrooms there. On Wednesday in response, Speaker Mike Johnson announced a move that would prohibit transgender people from using “single-sex facilities” on the House side of the Capitol and in House office buildings, including restrooms, changing rooms and locker rooms, that match their gender identity.

While abhorrent, this move is straight out of a longtime reactionary playbook. A decade ago, after their attempts to exclude gay people from public life finally failed, Republicans began to use bathroom bills to stir up a culture war targeting transgender Americans, a smaller group with fewer legal protections. Their attempt succeeded; now debates over trans existence have become a feature of everyday political discourse.

Provocateurs like Mace build political capital by tying the juvenile urge to gossip about people’s privates to the assumption that “men” set loose in women’s bathrooms will commit sexual violence. Demagogues prey on many Americans’ inexperience with transgender identity and women’s very real fears about being assaulted, cynically casting trans women as others who invade otherwise safe spaces.

That approach was evident in Johnson’s explanation of his decision: “Women deserve women’s-only spaces.” It evidently does not matter to him that one woman — McBride — will be excluded from them.

[DeplorablePaul]

“exhausting Republican from South Carolina, Representative Nancy Mace

Right? Exhausting her patience? I recall during the Roe vs Wade years, one Dem congresswoman yelled at pro lifers, don’t you ever give up? Maybe we right wingers are getting to be as persistent as commies.

[Samurai_Jack]

I would agree with the summary headline.
The capitol bathrooms should be unsafe spaces for men who want to go into the ladies room.

[caver]

It’s not a woman.

[MayflowerMadam]

Looks like Steve Bannon if he colored his hair.

[AppyPappy]

They still haven’t figured out why they lost the election

[MayflowerMadam]

That stuff is already happening in America. No big surprise if it were to move into Congress space.

[Sirius Lee]

Trannies are nutcases and a threat to civilized society. The recent history of mass shootings is evidence of this.

[maddog55]

The bill or whatever it was already passed. Biological women only in women’s restrooms a biological only men in men’s restrooms...not to mention each congressional office has it’s own bathroom and there is a unisex bathroom in the house and Senate.

[Allegra]

That’s not bullying, Anna.

Bullying is a man demanding to use women’s restroom facilities.

[MortMan]

Plus numerous unisex bathrooms.

[albie]

A gift shop in a little town my wife and I visited had a rainbow on the front door that “safe space”. I asked the clerk what that meant. She got super pissed and didn’t answer. As I left I said “Im going to the not safe space next door”.

[Ann Archy]

WTH is THAT!!

[fwdude]

He has a taxpayer-supplied bathroom in his office.

Use it.

that would miss the point. These freaks LOVE to flaunt their "status" in public, and force others to endure them. Despite their insistence that they want to stay "incognito," they make a point of "outing" themselves in these spaces to elicit a reaction in their sick minds. I read enough accounts to believe that they strike up conversations with other ladies in the women's rooms, and even ask to borrow feminine products, just to complete the costumed "identity."

[fwdude]

A gift shop in a little town my wife and I visited had a rainbow on the front door that “safe space”.

If they have to make the point that it's a "safe space," it's probably not.

[fwdude]

The idiot author can’t even define what a woman is.

[Vaduz]

Pepper spray comes in assorted sizes and in gel form it sticks better lasts longer.

Better living through chemistry.

[1Old Pro]

“Women deserve women’s-only spaces.” It evidently does not matter to him that one woman — McBride — will be excluded from them.

McBride is not a woman, he's a man with mental illness.

[OldHarbor]

Let me guess, the Queers will hold a “Shit In” and the Capitol will be flooded with cross dressers who will be parked outside the woman’s bathroom.

[N. Theknow]

No such thing as transgender. This man is a mentally ill cross dresser.

[bassmaner]

longtime reactionary playbook

NYT: your hammer and sickle is showing ...