A Republican lawmaker abruptly adjourned a congressional hearing on Tuesday after facing criticism for referring to Representative Sarah McBride, a Democrat from Delaware and the first openly transgender lawmaker in Congress, as a man.
During a session of the Europe Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs panel, Chairman Representative Keith Self of Texas introduced Ms. McBride by calling her “Mr. McBride.” In response, Ms. McBride expressed her displeasure by addressing Mr. Self as “Madam Chair” before continuing with her remarks.
However, Representative William Keating, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, interrupted to request that Mr. Self repeat his introduction. Mr. Self did so, again referring to Ms. McBride as “Mr. McBride.” Mr. Keating then admonished the chairman, stating, “Mr. Chairman, you are out of order,” and questioned his decency.
Despite Mr. Self's insistence that the hearing continue, Mr. Keating maintained that the session could not proceed until Ms. McBride was introduced correctly. Consequently, Mr. Self adjourned the hearing.
Following the incident, Mr. Self took to social media to explain his stance, asserting that it is U.S. policy to recognize only two sexes, male and female. This position aligns with an executive order signed by former President Trump during his second term.
In recent years, House Republicans have attempted to bar transgender women from using women’s restrooms in the Capitol. During the exchange, Mr. Self indicated that his refusal to acknowledge Ms. McBride as a woman followed a “standard” established on the House floor, though he did not elaborate on this standard.
Historically, House Republicans have refrained from referring to Ms. McBride as a woman during official proceedings. For instance, in February, Representative Mary Miller referred to her as the “gentleman from Delaware” without any comment from Ms. McBride. In other instances, Republicans have opted for neutral terms such as “the member from Delaware” instead of the traditional “gentleman” or “gentlewoman.” Ms. McBride has typically chosen to focus on economic issues during her time in Congress and avoids discussing her identity.
In an earlier interview, Ms. McBride stated that most Republicans she interacted with were warm and welcoming, with only a few exceptions. No public comment was made by her on Tuesday regarding being misgendered during the hearing.