Trans Activists Protest Capitol Bathroom Restrictions with Sit-In

Demonstrators challenge House Speaker Mike Johnson's policy banning transgender individuals from using restrooms aligned with their gender identity.

Dozens of transgender activists and allies, including Chelsea Manning, staged a sit-in at the U.S. Capitol near Speaker Mike Johnson's office to protest new restroom restrictions.
The policy, introduced by Johnson and supported by Rep. Nancy Mace, mandates Capitol restrooms be used based on biological sex, mirroring similar laws passed in over a dozen states.
Protesters criticized both Republican lawmakers for advancing discriminatory policies and Democrats for insufficiently defending transgender rights.
Fifteen protesters were arrested under a D.C. ordinance for crowding, not for violating the restroom policy itself.
Advocates argue these laws increase harassment and discrimination against transgender individuals, while studies show no evidence of safety risks from trans-inclusive restroom policies.