The Republican chair of a US House subcommittee adjourned a hearing after he was challenged for misgendering Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress.
McBride, a first-term Democratic congresswoman from Delaware, elected last November, shot back at the chair and a senior Democrat on the committee also spoke up to challenge the insult.
In Tuesday’s foreign affairs hearing, panel chair Keith Self of Texas introduced the Delaware member when it was her turn to speak by saying: “I now recognize the representative from Delaware, Mr McBride.”
McBride responded satirically: “Thank you, Madam Chair.”
Bill Keating, a Massachusetts Democrat, defended his colleague.
“This is not decent,” Keating told Self.
Under Donald Trump, Republicans have made attacks on transgender rights a central part of their party platform, especially targeting healthcare for trans youth, transgender troops and official recognition of gender, with the US president declaring during his inauguration speech that his government would only recognise two genders, male and female, following it up with an executive order.
McBride has been repeatedly misgendered on the House floor by Republicans and even targeted with a bill, introduced by Nancy Mace of South Carolina, to ban transgender women from using women’s bathrooms on Capitol Hill. Such a ban was imposed in November.
On Tuesday, after her “Madam Chair” riposte, McBride began speaking but Keating, the ranking Democrat on the panel, interjected to admonish Self: “Mr Chairman, could you repeat your instruction again, please?”
Self said: “Yes. We have set the standard on the floor of the House. And I’m simply –”
Keating interjected again, rapping the dais: “What is that standard, Mr Chairman? Would you repeat what you just said, when you introduced the duly elected representative from the United States of America. Please!”
“I will,” said Self. “The representative from Delaware, Mr McBride.”
Keating said: “Mr Chairman, you are out of order. Mr Chairman, have you no decency? I mean, I’ve come to know you a little bit, but this is not decent.”
Self said: “We will continue this hearing.”
His voice rising, and gesturing towards McBride, Keating said: “You will not continue it with me, unless you introduce a duly elected representative the right way.”
Self banged the gavel and said: “This hearing is adjourned.”
Keating closed his binder of notes with a clap, and the committee left the room.
At a time of increased concern over the Trump administration’s treatment of European allies, and its talks with Russia meant to end the war in Ukraine, the hearing was supposed to cover “arms control, national security, and US aAssistance to Europe: review and reforms for the state department”.
On Tuesday night, McBride released a statement.
“I was disappointed that the chair decided to end a committee hearing early,” she said. “I was prepared to move forward with my questions for the subcommittee on nuclear nonproliferation and US support for democratic allies in Europe.”
Keating did not comment further.
Self posted video of the confrontation and echoed an executive order signed by Trump in January, writing: “It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female.”
McBride has said she intends to “pick her battles” and avoid rising to Republicans’ bait, because attacks on her are meant as distractions from policies which hurt ordinary Americans.
“I think we are all united that attempts to attack a vulnerable community are not only mean-spirited but really an attempt to misdirect,” she told CBS. “Because every single time we hear the incoming administration or Republicans in Congress talk about any vulnerable group in this country, we have to be clear that it is an attempt to distract.
“Every single time we hear them say the word ‘trans’, look at what they’re doing with their right hand. Look at what they’re doing to pick the pocket of American workers, to fleece seniors by privatizing social security and Medicare. Look at what they’re doing, undermining workers.”
Speaking to the New York Times, McBride said that behind the scenes some Republicans have been “warm and welcoming”, though they have not defended her in public.
