• Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina used a derogatory term for transgender people during a Congressional hearing, prompting backlash.
• Democrat Rep. Gerry Connolly challenged Mace, stating her remarks were unacceptable in a decorous debate.
• Mace reiterated her controversial stance, arguing against "men in women's bathrooms" while dismissing the term's offensiveness.

During a House Oversight and Government Reform hearing, Rep. Nancy Mace erupted into a controversial discussion surrounding the funding of gender-affirming care abroad. Mace claimed that $2 million allocated by USAID to support transgender-led organizations in Guatemala is a misuse of taxpayer dollars, labeling the aid as “funding [for] trannies in Guatemala to the tune of $2 million.” Her remarks, which included the repeated use of a derogatory slur, drew immediate rebuke from members of the committee, particularly from Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly.

Connolly highlighted that Mace's language constitutes a slur recognized within the LGBTQ community, asserting that “a slur is a slur,” and emphasizing the need for decorum in legislative discourse. Mace, however, interrupted him mid-statement, insisting she does not care about the term's implications and further asserting her opposition to transgender individuals using women’s restrooms. “You want penises in women’s bathrooms, and I’m not going to have it,” Mace stated, showcasing her firm stance on the issue. Despite the rising outrage, Mace’s spokesperson dismissed the criticism, framing it as a result of political correctness from the left Newsweek.

Previous discussions surrounding Mace's political positions reveal that she has actively campaigned against transgender rights, previously proposing legislation to restrict restroom access for transgender women. GLAAD, an LGBTQ advocacy group, condemned the term Mace used, labeling it dehumanizing and offensive. The congresswoman's comments have deepened the ongoing discussions in Congress regarding LGBTQ rights, especially as various states have moved to introduce legislation that seeks to limit the rights and protections of transgender individuals USA Today.

As this debate continues to unravel, it serves as a crucial reminder of the heightened tensions in American politics regarding LGBTQ rights, provoking reactions from various corners of the political spectrum.

For more detailed coverage, visit the original articles on The Daily Beast, The Hill, Newsweek, and USA Today.