A misguided attempt to enforce
Republican Speaker
Mike Johnson’s discriminatory anti-trans bathroom policy at the Capitol led to an embarrassing misstep by GOP Reps.
Lauren Boebert of
Colorado and
Nancy Mace of
South Carolina who were involved in an incident on Thursday that
transgender Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride's office called “predictable.”
The pair confronted a cisgender woman in the restroom, mistakenly believing her to be the
Delaware Democratic lawmaker, who is the first out
transgender member of Congress. McBride had previously said she would follow House rules after Johnson banned transgender people from using the bathroom in line with their gender identity. The incident has reignited criticism of Johnson’s anti-trans bathroom regulations, which critics say endanger and harass all women.
The Daily Beast reports that Boebert told other members on the House floor that she saw McBride walk into the ladies’ room and followed her, saying, “You shouldn’t be here.” However, Boebert quickly realized she was mistaken, according to an unnamed GOP lawmaker who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “I overheard Boebert say she went to apologize,” the lawmaker added.
Bloomberg reporter Billy House documented the developments in real time and shared his firsthand account on X (formerly
Twitter).