Throughout the Republican midterm convention, Republicans consistently fearmongered about transgender people, the possibility of their playing in women’s sports and Democratic support for children under 18 receiving health care to transition. But ahead of the convention, the first openly transgender member of Congress had an important message for transgender youth: do not give up hope. Sarah McBride should know.
In 2024, she became the first openly transgender woman elected to Congress in 2024 after serving as a state senator from Delaware — and despite a wave of anti-trans sentiment across the country. On Friday, the Senate Leadership Fund, the super PAC affiliated with Majority Leader John Thune, launched an attack ad criticizing Senate candidate James Talarico for voting against a piece of legislation that would ban puberty blockers and transition surgeries for children under 18. The line harks back to President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign ad that used the same line: “Kamala is for They/Them, President Trump is for you.” In addition, Vice President JD Vance attacked Talarico for talking about Talarico’s support for transgender youth.
Vance also seemed to imply that Talarico preys upon transgender youth. But McBride said that the focus on transgender people rings hollow amid the war in Iran. Polling shows a majority of Americans oppose allowing transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports.
McBride said that Republicans have focused on transgender issues as a bogeyman issue consistently since returning to power. The majority party has attempted to pass legislation that failed that would ban trans women from competing in sports. They also tried to include a provision in the One Big, Beautiful Bill to prevent Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care for transgender people of all ages.
Republicans have also taken aim at McBride since she came to Capitol Hill. Some of her Republican colleagues have misgendered her in committee hearings or when she speaks on the House floor. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) attempted to ban McBride from using women’s restrooms before McBride was even sworn in.
This week, Talarico angered some of his supporters when he told Fox News, “I oppose trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it endangers safety or fairness.” In Iowa, Elon Musk’s America PAC has spent money against Democratic nominee for Senate Josh Turek attacking him for votes in the state legislature saying “Josh Turek voted to spend our tax dollars on sex change surgeries for children” and “to let biological men enter enter girls' locker rooms and bathrooms.” The anti-transgender sentiment has not been restricted to politics. The WNBA has seen swarms of anti-transgender protesters after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said she opposed transgender women participating in women’s sports. But McBride said that she had an important message for transgender youth who might be bullied.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
