U.S. Representative Nancy Mace—who ignited controversy this month by introducing a resolution to ban transgender lawmakers from using restrooms at the U.S. Capitol that correspond to their gender identity—last year described herself as “pro-transgender rights,” per an interview resurfaced by CNN.
“I’m pro-transgender rights,” Mace of South Carolina told CBS News’ The Takeout in May 2023. “I’m pro-LGBTQ.”
The Republican lawmaker made the comments while saying she opposed gender-affirming care for minors. “Sex change surgery, the hormone blockers that sterilize our children, we shouldn’t be doing that,” she said.
“Now, if they want to take on a different pronoun or a different gender identity, or grow their hair out, or wear a dress, or wear pants, or do those things as a minor, those are all things that I think most people would support. Be who you want to be, but don’t make those permanent changes when it’s a child,” Mace added.
When CNN asked Mace about the interview, she replied via text message: “Voted for gay marriage twice. Would do it again. Have supported pro LGBTQ legislation. Draw the line at women being forced to undress in front of men or men using our bathrooms or any private spaces.”
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images
Mace introduced the Capitol restroom measure after Democratic U.S. Representative-elect Sarah McBride became the first transgender person elected to Congress. When Mace was asked by reporters whether her proposal was in response to McBride’s election, she said, “Yes, absolutely, and then some.”
GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled his support for Mace’s resolution last week, saying in a statement that he supported restricting “single-sex facilities” in the Capitol to “individuals of that biological sex,” effectively barring McBride from using the women’s restroom.
Johnson went on to note that “each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol.”
McBride acknowledged Johnson’s comments, saying in a statement, “I’m not here to fight about bathrooms. I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families. Like all members, I will follow the rules as outlined by Speaker Johnson, even if I disagree with them.”
Mace’s past support for transgender and LGBTQ+ rights appears in contrast with her recent commentary. Last week, she posted and sent out replies about bathrooms on social media more than 300 times in three days.
“We support gay marriage, and voted for the Respect for Marriage Act twice,” one post said. “However, if you think protecting women is discrimination, you are the problem. We don’t care if you’re trans, if you have balls we don’t want you in the women’s bathroom.”
There is no evidence that transgender women pose an increased threat to safety in bathrooms. Transgender people are also several times more likely to be the victims of violent crimes than those who are not transgender.
Mace’s former communications director, Natalie Johnson, also tore into Mace over her prolific posting, writing on X that “tweeting 262 times about a bill that applies to like .00000001% of Congress in 36 hours is definitely about protecting women. It’s certainly not just a ploy for media attention.”
“If you think this bill is about protecting women and not simply a ploy to get on Fox News, you’ve been fooled,” Johnson wrote in another post.
Asked to comment last week on Johnson’s posts, a spokesperson for Mace responded, “lol.”
