Transgender lawmaker slams Republicans’ ‘bizarre’ focus on culture wars

Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., the first openly transgender member of Congress, slammed the Republicans on Thursday, accusing them of focusing more on “culture war issues” than the American people.

“I appear to live rent-free in the minds of some of my Republican colleagues,” McBride said. The Delaware lawmaker later added that “the Republican Party is obsessed with culture war issues. It is weird and it is bizarre.”

GOP LAWMAKER EXPLAINS WHY HE CALLED TRANS DEM ‘MR. MCBRIDE’

On Tuesday, Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, abruptly adjourned a congressional hearing after clashing with Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., over introducing the Delaware lawmaker as “Mr. McBride.” Keating demanded Self re-introduce McBride “the right way” and threatened to leave if Self did not do so. Rather than say “Ms. McBride,” the Texas Republican ended the hearing.

Self later said he refused to use female terms to refer to McBride because “I don’t have to participate in his fantasy.”

HOUSE REPUBLICAN INTRODUCES TRANSGENDER LAWMAKER AS ‘THE GENTLEMAN … MR. MCBRIDE’ FOR FLOOR SPEECH

McBride was also introduced as “the gentleman from Delaware, Mr. McBride” in the House chamber in early February. That time it was Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., who made a point of using the male title to refer to McBride. While the Delaware Democrat did not respond, a subsequent speaker, Rep. Nanette Barragán, D- Calif., called Miller “Mr. Speaker” before giving her speech.

In November 2024, before McBride was even sworn-in, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., faced backlash for trying to ban men who identify as women from women’s restrooms on Capitol Hill.

“This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing,” McBride said in a statement at the time.

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Upon his return to the Oval Office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order making it the official policy of the U.S. that two sexes, male and female, are recognized and “are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”

The president also mentioned the order in his address to a joint session of Congress earlier this month.

Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.

Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., the first openly transgender member of Congress, slammed the Republicans on Thursday, accusing them of focusing more on “culture war issues” than the American people.

“I appear to live rent-free in the minds of some of my Republican colleagues,” McBride said. The Delaware lawmaker later added that “the Republican Party is obsessed with culture war issues. It is weird and it is bizarre.”

GOP LAWMAKER EXPLAINS WHY HE CALLED TRANS DEM ‘MR. MCBRIDE’

On Tuesday, Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, abruptly adjourned a congressional hearing after clashing with Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., over introducing the Delaware lawmaker as “Mr. McBride.” Keating demanded Self re-introduce McBride “the right way” and threatened to leave if Self did not do so. Rather than say “Ms. McBride,” the Texas Republican ended the hearing.

Self later said he refused to use female terms to refer to McBride because “I don’t have to participate in his fantasy.”

HOUSE REPUBLICAN INTRODUCES TRANSGENDER LAWMAKER AS ‘THE GENTLEMAN … MR. MCBRIDE’ FOR FLOOR SPEECH

McBride was also introduced as “the gentleman from Delaware, Mr. McBride” in the House chamber in early February. That time it was Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., who made a point of using the male title to refer to McBride. While the Delaware Democrat did not respond, a subsequent speaker, Rep. Nanette Barragán, D- Calif., called Miller “Mr. Speaker” before giving her speech.

In November 2024, before McBride was even sworn-in, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., faced backlash for trying to ban men who identify as women from women’s restrooms on Capitol Hill.

“This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing,” McBride said in a statement at the time.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Upon his return to the Oval Office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order making it the official policy of the U.S. that two sexes, male and female, are recognized and “are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”

The president also mentioned the order in his address to a joint session of Congress earlier this month.

Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.