During a House hearing hosted by the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Europe, an exchange between a Republican and a Democratic committee member led to an abrupt end. The incident began when Rep. Keith Self misgendered Rep. Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, by referring to her as “Mr. McBride.” McBride quickly corrected Self by referring to him as “madam chair.”
The exchange escalated when Rep. Bill Keating criticized Self for his remarks, calling them indecent. Self attempted to continue the hearing, but Keating insisted that McBride be introduced properly. When Self refused, Keating declared the hearing adjourned.
The hearing was supposed to address topics such as arms control, international security, and U.S. assistance to Europe, but ended prematurely due to the confrontation. McBride expressed disappointment at the interruption, as she had questions prepared for the Subcommittee on nuclear nonproliferation and U.S. support for democratic allies in Europe.
This incident is not the first time McBride has faced discrimination as a transgender lawmaker. She has been the target of policies aimed at restricting the rights of transgender individuals, such as a resolution introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace to prevent transgender women from using female bathrooms in the Capitol.
Despite these challenges, McBride has remained focused on her duties as a member of Congress and has emphasized the importance of selecting meaningful battles when facing discrimination based on her identity.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
