Photo by Jan Kopischke, Student Publications Advisor
Republicans start their majority off in the House by going after transgender people.
No one should be surprised.
Republicans won a slim majority in the House and the Senate this election cycle. That means that their far-right agenda will be more than likely to become reality after former President Donald Trump won the Presidential election. As evidence of their far-right agenda, Nancy Mace (R-SC) is introducing a bill that prohibits transgender people from using the Women’s bathrooms in the Capitol, targeting Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first transgender woman elected to the House of Representatives.
Jonah Marshall
Opinions Writer
What this bill represents yet again, is that the MAGA Republican party does not know how to govern, especially for a party that platformed on fixing the issues of lowering costs for working families. This bill clearly does not represent that. Instead, this bill targets transgender people and sends a message from the MAGA Republican party that they do not see some individuals as valid or recognize citizens as who they are. According to NPR, who gathered information on the effects of anti-LGBTQ legislation, it was reported that transgender and non-conforming teens were 72% more likely to attempt suicide due to the myriad anti-LGBTQ bills being proposed and passed in some states.
Now, if you are someone who may not feel comfortable with a person who is transgender in the bathroom, there are other ways to handle it besides passing legislation that will make their lives more difficult. Wait outside the bathroom or use another one. I can tell you that the solution is not to pass legislation that makes their lives more difficult. Your life is not affected by what transgender people do; what lawmakers are deciding to do with this legislation does impact their lives though.
Let me leave you with this: if you are still on the side of being in favor of this legislation, is this the most important issue right now in America?
