What Is Going on With Sarah McBride?
First openly trans U.S rep faces criticism from all sides — but she deserves our patience
U.S. Rep. Sarah E. McBride (D - Delaware), is the first openly transgender person elected to the U.S. Congress. A historic and groundbreaking achievement, especially in the anti-trans climate that we are experiencing.
Since her election last November, Rep. McBride has been at the center of controversy. First, because she was the unnamed but obvious target of South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, who pushed for and got a Congressional rule change that dictated that people must use restrooms conforming to their assigned sex at birth in the Capitol building. And several times, her Republican colleagues have purposely misgendered McBride in committee meetings by referring to her as "Mr. McBride."
McBride's responses to these attacks and slurs — or more accurately, her lack of response to them — has frustrated and angered in the trans community. Recently, noted trans journalist Erin Reed has joined that group, criticizing McBride on Bluesky in a recent post.
In brief, Reed and others feel betrayed by McBride's refusal to confront her attackers. She did not directly respond to either Mace's spiteful bathroom rule or to the mean-spirited misgendering by Republicans.
Even worse, in her critics’ eyes, in an answer to a question from an interviewer, McBride said, “We have to create more space in our tent. If, for instance, we want to have a majoritarian coalition — not just electorally, but specifically on issues around trans rights — that, by necessity, is going to have to include people who have a range of thoughts.”
Taken out of context and read coldly, that appears to be a damning capitulation by McBride to the abuse she has endured. And it was this quote that apparently led Reed to write, "The people who went with 'Sarah McBride will actively collaborate with the destruction of transgender rights' turned out to be right."
That is a strong statement to make. And one I can't agree with, especially after reading the full article on the NOTUS site from which that quote was excised:
"The Delaware congresswoman has cautioned moderate Democrats that the tenor and tone of their comments — particularly on questioning trans athletes in sports, which is where most of the debate has focused — might inflame and splinter factions instead of being productive," the article reads. McBride’s quotes are given more context here: “A binary choice between being all-on or all-off is not constructive for anyone,” she said. “It impedes the very needed path toward winning electorally, winning hearts and minds and, most importantly, winning progress.”
That is called pragmatism. And while it may inflame you or impede your desire to fight back, it is often the logical tack to take in tough situations.
For a moment, try to imagine yourself in McBride's shoes. She is the first and only openly transgender person elected to the U.S. Congress. Constantly in the spotlight, constantly being scrutinized. Every action and reaction of hers subject to inspection and commentary. A no-win position to be in.
To state the obvious — McBride represents not only the transgender community in Delaware, but all of her constituents in that state. That is 1.052 million people as of the last census. According to Williams Institute statistics, of that number, only about 7,000 of her constituents are transgender. Around 0.9%.
Like it or not, her job is to represent everyone effectively, not just that tiny minority. And to do so, she has to be able to develop workable relationships and coalitions with other legislators. Sometimes of both parties, as stomach-churning as that may be.
What should also be taken into account is McBride's time in office. She was sworn in three months ago. No similarly new legislator would be expected to have made much of a mark, so why put such an expectation upon McBride? The answer I got to that question by her naysayers is that they want her to say “SOMETHING! ANYTHING!” in support of transgender rights.
To an extent, I get it. She is the best-known trans person nationally right now (outside of entertainment), and surely her comments would be widely reported. Yet, for that very same reason, anything she says on the subject will be magnified and undoubtedly utilized by the right against us.
We only have to look back on last year's election to see how they weaponized Kamala Harris' past comments on transgender people against her. Their "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" ads cost her untold numbers of votes. Do you have any doubt that anything remotely controversial said by McBride wouldn't be similarly weaponized against her and our community?
It is easy for me or you or Erin Reed to express our anger at the open bigotry and discrimination we are undergoing. And I encourage us all to do so, whether it's by joining a group such as Trans Unity Coalition, contacting our legislators and advocating for our rights, or making videos and podcasts, or organizing peaceful protests and rallies, or posting on social media. There are myriad methods available to us. Sarah McBride is going about it in the way she believes is best for someone in her position.
Life often presents you with undesirable situations, with unwinable choices, or with impossible odds against you. We, the transgender community, are a tiny, marginalized population. We are facing a mammoth, organized and, unfortunately, legally elected enemy. This foe is coming at us by the enactment of laws aimed at denying us our rights and our very existence. I hate admitting that, and I know you do too.
The best defense we have in fighting this enemy is by pushing for legislation to advance our cause. Realistically, that means we need allies from outside our community. A reality that Rep. McBride is well aware of and is courting in the best way she knows how.
Which is why I ask our community to give her space and time to try it her way. She deserves our grace. For a while, at least.
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