A hearing was ended abruptly by the subcommittee chair after he was condemned by another representative for misgendering Sarah McBride. McBride was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2024, becoming the first ever openly transgender member of Congress. Previously serving as a Senator for Delaware as well, she has worked towards addressing a number of issues, including expanding access to healthcare, combating climate change, advocating for workers’ rights, and decreasing gun violence. 

Earlier this month on March 12, McBride was misgendered by subcommittee chair Keith Self.

“I now recognize the representative from Delaware, Mr. McBride,” Self said. 

McBride swiftly responded before proceeding with the hearing, which was supposed to discuss arms control, national security, and U.S. assistance to Europe in regards to the war in Ukraine. 

“Thank you, Madam Chair,” McBride replied. 

Before she could fully go on, Massachusetts representative Bill Keating came to her defense, asking Self to repeat his introduction again. 

“We have set the standard on the floor of the House,” Self responded. 

Keating questioned what the standard is and continued to defend McBride, pointing out that she is a “duly elected representative from the United States of America.” Despite this, Self maintained his referring to McBride as “Mr.” and Keating rebuked this behavior. 

“Mr. Chairman, you are out of order,” Keating said. “Mr. Chairman, have you no decency?”

Self attempted to continue the hearing, but Keating refused to do so unless he introduced McBride correctly. The meeting was then adjourned by Self. The incident has since then gone viral across social media, stunning many with Self’s blatant disrespect. 

“At first I was so confused, like, the misgendering was so casual and so short that I almost missed it, but once I caught on I was shocked,” senior Lillian Yared said. “I appreciated [Keating] for standing up for her though, especially after I watched her brush it off when it happened.” 

The day after the incident, McBride expressed her disappointment about what happened in a statement to NBC. Self’s behavior goes to show that discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community still persists, even with McBride making history by being elected. However, even in the face of adversity, she is still determined to properly serve her constituents. 

“The American people deserve serious legislators, serious elected officials, who are focused on bringing people together to deliver real results for the American people,” McBride said. “Not to play games and not to engage in schoolyard taunts.”

A hearing was ended abruptly by the subcommittee chair after he was condemned by another representative for misgendering Sarah McBride. McBride was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2024, becoming the first ever openly transgender member of Congress. Previously serving as a Senator for Delaware as well, she has worked towards addressing a number of issues, including expanding access to healthcare, combating climate change, advocating for workers’ rights, and decreasing gun violence. 

Earlier this month on March 12, McBride was misgendered by subcommittee chair Keith Self.

“I now recognize the representative from Delaware, Mr. McBride,” Self said. 

McBride swiftly responded before proceeding with the hearing, which was supposed to discuss arms control, national security, and U.S. assistance to Europe in regards to the war in Ukraine. 

“Thank you, Madam Chair,” McBride replied. 

Before she could fully go on, Massachusetts representative Bill Keating came to her defense, asking Self to repeat his introduction again. 

“We have set the standard on the floor of the House,” Self responded. 

Keating questioned what the standard is and continued to defend McBride, pointing out that she is a “duly elected representative from the United States of America.” Despite this, Self maintained his referring to McBride as “Mr.” and Keating rebuked this behavior. 

“Mr. Chairman, you are out of order,” Keating said. “Mr. Chairman, have you no decency?”

Self attempted to continue the hearing, but Keating refused to do so unless he introduced McBride correctly. The meeting was then adjourned by Self. The incident has since then gone viral across social media, stunning many with Self’s blatant disrespect. 

“At first I was so confused, like, the misgendering was so casual and so short that I almost missed it, but once I caught on I was shocked,” senior Lillian Yared said. “I appreciated [Keating] for standing up for her though, especially after I watched her brush it off when it happened.” 

The day after the incident, McBride expressed her disappointment about what happened in a statement to NBC. Self’s behavior goes to show that discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community still persists, even with McBride making history by being elected. However, even in the face of adversity, she is still determined to properly serve her constituents. 

“The American people deserve serious legislators, serious elected officials, who are focused on bringing people together to deliver real results for the American people,” McBride said. “Not to play games and not to engage in schoolyard taunts.”