Latest news with #EuropeSubcommittee
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. Rep. Keith Self cuts short committee hearing after colleague objects to him misgendering trans member
U.S. Rep. Keith Self, R-McKinney, abruptly adjourned a congressional hearing Tuesday after being confronted for misgendering U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride,the first openly transgender member of Congress. The Europe Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs, which Self chairs, was meeting about arms control when Self introduced McBride by calling her, 'Mr. McBride.' McBride, a Delaware Democrat, replied, 'Thank you, Madam Chair,' before continuing with her remarks. U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, D-Massachusetts, interjected to ask Self to repeat his introduction. Self did so, again referring to his colleague as 'Mr. McBride.' 'Mr. Chairman, you are out of order,' Keating, incredulous, shot back. 'Mr. Chairman, have you no decency? I mean, I've come to know you a little bit. But this is not decent.' Self attempted to continue the hearing as Keating went on to say that the hearing would not continue with him 'unless you introduce a duly elected representative the right way.' Self then adjourned the hearing. Later on social media, Self wrote that 'it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female.' President Donald Trump signed an executive order in the first days of his term declaring that the federal government only recognized two sexes, and that they were not interchangeable. House Republicans have previously not referred to McBride as a woman in official proceedings, and worked to bar transgender women from using women's restrooms in the Capitol complex. U.S. Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois referred to McBride as the 'gentleman from Delaware,' while recognizing her for her first floor speech in February. McBride ignored it. McBride did not comment on Self's remark further at the hearing. Later on social media, she wrote that 'no matter how I'm treated by some colleagues, nothing diminishes my awe and gratitude at getting to represent Delaware in Congress. It is truly the honor and privilege of a lifetime. I simply want to serve and to try to make this world a better place.' We can't wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
"Have you no decency?": Congressional committee hearing abruptly ends after McBride misgendered
Rep. Sarah McBride might be willing to let the some Republican slights roll off her back, but not all of her fellow Democrats are willing to tolerate the disrespect. Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., during a Tuesday meeting of the House's Europe Subcommittee after Chair Keith Self, R-Texas, misgendered McBride. "I now recognize the representative from Delaware, Mr. McBride," Self said. McBride thanked the chair, calling them "madam," and began to speak before Keating demanded that McBride be addressed correctly. "Mr. Chairman, you are out of order. Have you no decency? I've come to know you a little bit, but this is not decent," Keating said. Self attempted to continue the hearing before Keating jumped in again. "You will not continue [this hearing] with me unless you introduce a duly elected representative the right way," Keating said. Rather than give in, Self banged his gavel and ended the hearing. The Democrat from Delaware is the first openly transgender member of Congress, which has earned her no end of mistreatment from her Republican coworkers. Shortly before she took her seat on Capitol Hill, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., amended House rules to require that lawmakers use bathrooms in line with their "biological sex." Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., has used McBride's time in Congress as a springboard to slots on conservative talk shows, where she can openly espouse anti-trans bigotry while getting in valuable national face time. McBride, for her part, has said the Republican trans panic is nothing more than a distraction from the unpopular parts of the Republican agenda. "Every single time we hear them say the word 'trans,' look what they're doing with their right hand," she told CBS' "Face The Nation" in November. "Look at what they're doing to pick the pocket of American workers, to fleece seniors by privatizing Social Security and Medicare."
New York Times
11-03-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Republican Refers to Transgender Member as a Man, Cutting Short a House Hearing
A Republican lawmaker abruptly adjourned a congressional hearing on Tuesday after being challenged for referring to Representative Sarah McBride, Democrat of Delaware and the first openly transgender lawmaker in Congress, as a man. The Europe Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs panel was in the middle of a hearing on arms control and U.S. assistance to Europe when its chairman, Representative Keith Self of Texas, introduced his colleague by calling her 'Mr. McBride.' Ms. McBride, who entered Congress knowing she would present a unique target for Republicans who have politicized and attacked transgender people, has generally chosen to let such moments slide. On Tuesday, she briefly registered her displeasure by returning Mr. Self's slight, responding, 'Thank you, Madam Chair,' before proceeding with her remarks. But Representative William Keating of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, was not willing to move on. He interrupted to request that Mr. Self repeat his introduction, which he did, again referring to the Delaware Democrat as 'Mr. McBride.' 'Mr. Chairman, you are out of order,' Mr. Keating fired back. 'Mr. Chairman, have you no decency? I mean, I've come to know you a little bit. But this is not decent.' Mr. Self said it was time to continue the hearing. But Mr. Keating refused to let go. 'You will not continue it with me unless you introduce a duly elected representative the right way,' he said. With that, Mr. Self then adjourned the session. On social media, Mr. Self later explained himself, writing that, 'It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female.' One of President Trump's early moves of his second term was to sign an executive order that the federal government would only recognize two sexes and that they were not changeable. House Republicans moved last year to bar transgender women from Capitol Hill women's restrooms. And during his testy exchange with Mr. Keating, Mr. Self suggested that his refusal to refer to Ms. McBride as a woman was in line with a 'standard' that had been set on the House floor. 'What is that standard, Mr. Chairman?' Mr. Keating fired back. Mr. Self did not elaborate. But House Republicans appear to have established a practice of not referring to Ms. McBride as a woman in official proceedings. In February, when Ms. McBride rose to deliver her maiden floor speech, Representative Mary Miller, Republican of Illinois, referred to her as the 'gentleman from Delaware.' Ms. McBride said nothing. On other occasions, Republicans presiding on the floor and in hearings have tried to steer clear of the issue, recognizing her as 'the member from Delaware,' even though the custom is to refer to lawmakers as 'gentleman' or 'gentlewoman.' In those instances, Ms. McBride has simply proceeded with her remarks. That approach is in keeping with how she conducted herself on her campaign and in her first months in Congress: She prefers to talk about economic issues and rarely discusses or calls attention to her identity. And she generally gives her G.O.P. colleagues the benefit of the doubt when it comes to dealing with her. 'Honestly, every Republican I've interacted with has been warm and welcoming, save for a couple,' Ms. McBride said in an interview in January. She made no public comment on Tuesday about being misgendered during the hearing.
