Facing Transphobia on the Trans Day of Remembrance

Sarah McBride speaks at a Pride event in June 2017. Photo by Donna Burton, public domain.

Content notes: Transmisogyny, suicidal ideation

Today, November 20, is the Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual event to memorialize trans victims — predominantly women of color — of deadly, transphobic violence. Founded in 1999, the event has been recognized with statements by the Biden administration since 2021.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, chose to make a different statement on this solemn occasion. Following a resolution made earlier this week by Representative Nancy Mace that would exclude trans women from women’s restrooms in the Capitol, Johnson supported this measure, and issued a statement that “All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex.”

Speaker Mike Johnson says he supports banning transgender women from using female bathrooms

While transphobic resolutions and bills targeting trans women are, sadly, nothing new, this week’s statements were squarely aimed at incoming Delaware representative Sarah McBride, the first openly trans person elected to Congress. She opted to respond to…