ABC News reported that after the swearing-in ceremony on January 3, Ms. Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender member of the US Congress, while holding the position of Representative of the state of Delaware. Previously, she was a legislator in the Delaware state senate, and was also the first transgender person active in the state senate.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson (left) on January 3 met with Sarah McBride, the first transgender congressman in the US Congress
Another character, Ms. Julie Johnson, became the first LGBTQ++ congresswoman from a southern state, representing Texas in the House of Representatives. Previously, she worked for the Texas legislature since 2018. During the election campaign, she highlighted her record of supporting a bill to prevent anti-LGBTQ+ situations. Meanwhile, Ms. Emily Randall, a Washington state congressman since 2018, will become the first LGBTQ+ Latina person present in the highest legislative body in the United States. Ms. Randall’s targeted policies include health care, educational equity and protection of minority communities.
According to the page Advocatethe 119th US Congress (2025 – 2027) has 13 LGBTQ+ lawmakers, equal to the record number of the 118th Congress.
In recent years, federal and local officials in the United States have warned of increased violence against the LGBTQ+ community. In Congress, Ms. McBride encountered some opposition from her colleagues, such as when South Carolina state representative Nancy Mace refused to propose a law banning transgender women from using women’s restrooms on Capitol Hill, saying it was “completely “is a proposal in response to Ms. McBride entering parliament. This bill has been cancelled.
According to the law of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives has the right to make “general regulations” for the agency’s facilities. House Speaker Mike Johnson once said that transgender women are not allowed to use women’s restrooms or women’s changing rooms in House buildings, although there is no specific document.
Ms. McBride emphasized: “I’m not here to fight for toilets. I’m here to fight for the people of Delaware and to reduce the cost burden on families. Like my colleagues, I will comply with the rules set forth by Chairman Mike Johnson, even if I disagree.”
