"House Hearing Abruptly Ends After GOP Chair Misgenders Trans Congresswoman Sarah McBride"

A subcommittee hearing dedicated to discussing U.S. policies on arms control, international security, and assistance to Europe came to an unexpected halt Tuesday following a dispute over gender recognition. The contentious moment arose when Republican Rep. Keith Self of Texas misgendered Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride from Delaware, who holds the distinction of being the first openly transgender member of Congress.

Upon recognizing McBride for her comments, Self addressed her as "Mr. McBride." McBride calmly and immediately responded by thanking Self and ironically addressing him as "madam chair." This brief exchange caused an uproar within the session, prompting Rep. Bill Keating, the leading Democrat on the subcommittee, to intervene. Keating sharply criticized Self’s remarks as indecent, declaring them out of order and questioning Self's sense of decency.

When Keating made it clear that he would not permit the proceedings to continue without proper acknowledgment of McBride, Chair Self abruptly adjourned the hearing and struck the session closed with his gavel. As attendees departed, Keating offered McBride supportive reassurance by patting her shoulder.

Speaking afterward in a statement, Rep. McBride expressed disappointment at the premature end of the session. She explained that she had been prepared to discuss important matters relating to nuclear nonproliferation and U.S. support for allied democracies in Europe.

When asked for further comments, Keating's office pointed to the recording of the interaction, suggesting it clearly illustrated the situation without any additional remarks needed. In contrast, Rep. Self later responded on social media by reiterating a Trump-era executive order stating that U.S. policy officially recognizes only two immutable sexes.

Since entering Congress, Rep. Sarah McBride has become a frequent subject of controversy among some conservative lawmakers. Notably, Rep. Nancy Mace previously introduced a bathroom-related resolution expressly targeting McBride, explicitly aiming to prohibit transgender women from using women's bathrooms inside the Capitol. This initiative was informally implemented by House Speaker Mike Johnson at the start of the legislative session.

In response to these ongoing challenges, McBride shared in an earlier interview that she refused to take politically motivated provocations to heart, emphasizing her focus on performing effectively as a Congress member and judiciously selecting battles worth fighting.