Rep. Nancy Mace says she will “never apologize for defending women” as she continues backing rules limiting access to women’s facilities in the U.S. Capitol.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Nancy Mace is doubling down on her efforts to restrict transgender women from using female restrooms and other private facilities in the U.S. Capitol, saying the policy is necessary to protect women’s privacy and safety.
“When we heard Tim McBride was coming to Congress, we knew we had to act to protect women’s safety,” the South Carolina Republican wrote in a social media post this week.
Mace added, “We immediately introduced a resolution to keep biological men out of women’s restrooms at the U.S. Capitol.”
Picture: Rendering of Congressperson Tim “Sarah” McBride outside a men’s bathroom on Capitol Hill.
Key Points
• Rep. Nancy Mace continues defending Capitol restroom restrictions based on biological sex.
• The policy debate began after the election of Rep. Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress.
• Critics have called the rules discriminatory, while supporters say they protect women’s privacy and safety.
The controversy began shortly after the election of Delaware Democrat Tim “Sarah” McBride, who became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. McBride was born a man, but dresses like a woman, and contends that he is a woman, despite not being a biological female.
In response, Mace introduced House Resolution 1579, which sought to prohibit members of Congress, officers and employees from using single-sex facilities that do not correspond with their biological sex.
Mace has repeatedly argued that women’s spaces should remain separated by biological sex.
“Women’s spaces exist for a reason and it’s not to accommodate radical gender ideology,” she wrote.
House leadership adopted similar policy
Following Mace’s push, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House office buildings would be reserved for individuals based on biological sex.
The policy applies to restrooms, locker rooms and changing facilities within House-controlled spaces. Enforcement falls under the authority of the House Sergeant at Arms.
The issue quickly became one of the most closely watched cultural debates on Capitol Hill as lawmakers prepared for the start of the new Congress.
Mace seeks broader federal restrictions
In addition to the Capitol-specific measure, Mace introduced separate legislation that would apply similar biological sex-based facility requirements across federal properties nationwide.
Supporters argue the proposals protect privacy rights and maintain longstanding distinctions between men’s and women’s facilities.
“We will NEVER apologize for defending women, protecting their privacy, and standing up for common sense,” Mace wrote.
Democrats criticize the effort
Democratic lawmakers and LGBTQ advocacy groups have strongly opposed the restrictions.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democrats criticized the policy as an effort to target an incoming colleague rather than address legislative priorities facing Congress.
Opponents argue transgender individuals should be permitted to use facilities that align with their gender identity and contend the rules unfairly single out transgender Americans.