South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace Faces Death Threats Over Push to Ban Transgender from Using Women’s Restrooms

South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace has revealed that she has been receiving death threats in response to her controversial push to prevent transgender women, including newly-elected Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride, from using women’s restrooms in the U.S. Capitol.

Mace introduced a bathroom bill resolution earlier this week, which seeks to prohibit trans women from using female restrooms on Capitol Hill. She argued that she would not stand by “someone with a penis in the women’s locker room.”

The backlash escalated after Mace confirmed that McBride, who will become the first openly transgender member of Congress, was the primary catalyst behind her proposal.

Mace emphasised her opposition to the idea of a transgender woman entering women’s spaces, particularly referencing a potential scenario where she would be in a women’s locker room or gym, and a trans woman’s genitalia was present.

“This person wants to come in and use women’s spaces…I’m not OK with that,” Mace told News Nation’s “On Balance.” She also described how such an incident would be a “trigger” for her, given her personal history as a rape survivor.

“I have PTSD from the abuse that I’ve suffered, and I’m gonna do everything I can to protect women and girls,” she said.

In the face of increasing threats and backlash, Mace doubled down on her stance, vowing not to back down. “This is only the start, and I’m not gonna stop,” she declared.

“I can’t be threatened. You can’t threaten my life enough. That means I’m just gonna double and triple, quadruple down on this issue.”

Mace’s bill, which prohibits members of Congress and their staff from using restrooms, changing rooms, or locker rooms that do not correspond to their biological sex, has drawn swift criticism, particularly from McBride.

McBride, who was elected to represent Delaware’s at-large congressional district, immediately pushed back against Mace’s legislation, urging for “kindness” in Congress.

“Every day, Americans go to work with people who have life journeys different than their own and engage with them respectfully; I hope members of Congress can muster that same kindness,” McBride wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

She further criticized Mace’s proposal, calling it a distraction from pressing issues affecting Americans. “This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing,” McBride said. “We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars.”

McBride reaffirmed her commitment to serving the needs of Delawareans and focusing on making the American dream more affordable and accessible.