HOUSE HEARING ERUPTS IN CONTROVERSY AS REPUBLICAN MISGENDERS TRANSGENDER LAWMAKER
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a moment that sent shockwaves through the halls of Congress, a routine House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing took a dramatic turn when Representative Keith Self of Texas repeatedly misgendered Representative Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, leading to an abrupt adjournment.
Political Theater or Deliberate Disrespect?
The incident unfolded during a discussion on U.S. assistance to Europe when Self, the committee chairman, introduced McBride as “Mr. McBride.” The Delaware Democrat, who has long been a target of right-wing attacks, initially brushed it off, responding, “Thank you, Madam Chair.” But when Representative William Keating of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat, demanded that Self repeat his introduction, the tension escalated.
Self doubled down, again referring to McBride as “Mr. McBride.” The room erupted as Keating fired back, “Mr. Chairman, you are out of order. Have you no decency?”
The Walkout That Stunned Congress
What happened next left even seasoned political observers stunned. Rather than acknowledging the error or engaging in discussion, Self abruptly adjourned the hearing, walking out in the face of mounting outrage. Keating, refusing to back down, declared, “You will not continue it with me unless you introduce a duly elected representative the right way.”
The dramatic moment has reignited debates over decorum, respect, and trans rights in Congress, with reactions flooding in from both sides of the political spectrum.
McBride’s Measured Response
Despite the controversy, McBride herself has remained composed. Having spent years battling transphobia in politics, she has largely avoided engaging in public disputes over such attacks. However, in a quiet but pointed response, she later stated, “Respect in governance isn’t optional. It’s a responsibility.”
The Political Fallout
The fallout from the incident is already reverberating through Washington. Some Democrats are calling for Self to be censured, while conservative voices insist he was merely following his “beliefs.” The incident underscores the broader culture war gripping the nation, where issues of identity, representation, and respect are increasingly at the forefront of political discourse.
With Congress already deeply divided, the question now is whether this moment will be remembered as just another partisan fight—or a turning point in how lawmakers engage with one another on fundamental issues of dignity and respect.
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