Transgender Congresswoman Condemns Misgendering and Culture War Focus in Congress

Rep. Sarah McBride criticizes Republican colleagues for divisive tactics, urging focus on governance and public needs.

Rep. Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, has faced repeated misgendering by Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Keith Self during a House Foreign Affairs committee hearing.
The incident at the hearing escalated when Self refused to correct his misgendering of McBride, leading to a heated exchange and the abrupt adjournment of the session.
McBride publicly called out House Republicans for prioritizing culture war issues over substantive governance, describing their behavior as 'weird' and 'bizarre.'
Supporters of McBride, including advocacy organizations like GLAAD, have criticized the misgendering as disrespectful and a distraction from legislative responsibilities.
Republican lawmakers defending the misgendering cited a Trump-era executive order recognizing only two sexes, though it does not hold legal authority outside the executive branch.