Ocasio-Cortez Rails After Johnson Issues ‘Bathroom’ Guidance

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez strongly criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson following his apparent support for a resolution by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) aimed at barring biological males from using women’s bathrooms in the Capitol.

Rep. Mace’s proposal, introduced last week, seeks to restrict access to women-only facilities based on biological sex. This measure comes as Sarah McBride (D-Del.), the nation’s first openly transgender representative, is set to take office in January.

Although Mace has highlighted her personal experiences as a rape and sexual abuse survivor as the driving force behind her resolution, Ocasio-Cortez has labeled the effort as rooted in “hate” and “bigotry.”

“What Nancy Mace and Speaker Johnson are doing is endangering all women and girls,” said the Bronx lawmaker. “If you ask them, ‘What is your plan to enforce this?’ they can’t provide one. What it ultimately leads to is women and girls being put in vulnerable positions where someone feels entitled to check their private parts, suspecting who might be trans or cis. The idea that Nancy Mace wants little girls to drop their trousers in front of investigators is appalling.”

She went on to question how the resolution would be implemented. “Who would enforce this? Would it be someone inspecting and accusing women who they think don’t look ‘woman enough’? It’s disgusting,” she argued. “This approach essentially allows Republicans to target and bully any woman not wearing a skirt or fitting their idea of femininity.”

“People deserve the freedom to express themselves, dress how they choose, and be who they are,” she added. “If a woman doesn’t meet Republican standards of appearance, does that mean her genitals need to be checked to use a bathroom? It’s repugnant, and everyone, regardless of where they stand on this issue, should reject this completely.”

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Meanwhile, Mace has stood firmly by her proposal.

“If being a feminist makes me an extremist, I’m totally here for it,” she declared in response to a reporter’s question last week.

When asked if her resolution was a reaction to Rep.-elect McBride joining Congress, Mace replied, “Yes, absolutely, and then some. I will not stand for a man being in women’s locker rooms or bathrooms. As a survivor of abuse and rape, I know how vulnerable women are in private spaces, and this is unacceptable.”

She added, “I will fight tooth and nail against any man trying to be in women’s restrooms, locker rooms, or changing areas. This is about protecting women’s rights to safe, private spaces.”

Mace, a trailblazer as the first woman to graduate from The Citadel, has garnered significant support on social media.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if @NancyMace didn’t have to work so hard just to avoid sharing a locker room with a biological male? She’s not asking for much,” tweeted Sen. Mike Lee, calling out critics of her stance.

Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly also expressed her backing, tweeting: “Why should @NancyMace or any female member of Congress or staff have to share their bathroom with a man? This isn’t about the feelings of men pretending to be women. It’s about safeguarding actual women in spaces meant to be private and secure.”

Similarly, commentator CJ Pearson stated, “I don’t care if it’s a Congressman or a swimmer. A man is a man and doesn’t belong in women’s restrooms.”