The deplorable way House Republicans are treating Rep. Sarah McBride knows no historical equal

I was working on the Hill In 1987, when Congressman Barney Frank courageously came out as gay, becoming one of the first out gay members of Congress. His revelation was met with a mix of support and blatant discrimination. Trust me, I had to hear all the gay jokes about Frank and laugh along with everyone else because I couldn’t dare voice words of support for him that would have suggested that I was gay too.

However, publicly, it seemed, most members of Congress didn’t make a big fuss about it, at least that I can recall. I even remember the congressman I worked for, Austin Murphy, more or less just shrugging his shoulders.

As an aside, when Murphy left office in 1995, Frank inherited our congressional office, 2210 Rayburn, and I recall Murphy telling me that he left a note on the desk for Frank that said something to the effect that I was going to leave you my little black book, but I figured you’d have no use for it. Frank had a great sense of humor, so I’m sure that elicited a laugh.

However, there were some outliers. A glaring example of bigotry occurred in 1995 when then-House Majority Leader Dick Armey referred to Frank as "Barney Fag." Armey later claimed it was a slip of the tongue, but Frank aptly retorted, "I turned to my own expert, my mother, who reports that in 59 years of marriage, no one ever introduced her as Elsie Fag."

This incident highlighted the deep-seated homophobia within the political sphere at the time, yet Armey then issued an apology to Frank. Current House Republicans could take a lesson from that, but chances are they have no idea what the definition of remorse or, for that matter, respect is.

The recent abhorrent — historically abhorrent — treatment of U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride, the first out transgender member of Congress, by House Republicans is not only a stark reminder of the persistent bigotry that continues to plague Republicans, but it also demonstrates that the days of a Republican apologizing for offending an LGBTQ+ person have been relegated to the dustbin of history.

On Tuesday, during a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing, Republican Chairman Keith Self deliberately misgendered McBride by addressing McBride as "Mr." This intentional act of disrespect prompted McBride to respond with grace, thanking him by saying, "Thank you, Madam Chair."

The situation escalated when Democratic Rep. Bill Keating intervened, questioning Self's decency. Keating using that word was perhaps no accident. It was a poignant echo of the famous rebuke to Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s Red Scare: "Have you no sense of decency, sir?"

That phrase, uttered by Joseph Welch, the special counsel for the U.S. Army, in response to an off-the-rails and offensive McCarthy question, has withstood the test of time. Whenever I utter, write, or read the word “decency,” I think of Welch, so when Keating repeated the same line Tuesday, it brought back the horrifically historical time of McCarthy, when his treatment of those targeted by his anti-communist crusade bordered on outright cruelty.

On Tuesday, Self was taking a page from McCarthy’s brutality. Instead of correcting his misconduct and apologizing to McBride (Wait, apologize? Forget that), Self chose to adjourn the meeting abruptly, further showcasing his and others of his ilk’s blatant disrespect and intolerance.

This incident is not isolated but part of a broader pattern of discriminatory actions targeting Congresswoman McBride. And I cannot think of a historical equal when one member of Congress was singled out so viciously and her perpetrators not reprimanded, censured, or fined, which is what used to happen when a member got out of line.

Earlier this year, Republican Rep. Nancy Mace introduced a resolution aimed at banning transgender individuals from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity within the U.S. Capitol. Mace was explicitly targeting McBride, misgendering her in public statements and asserting that it was "offensive" for a trans woman to consider herself equal to cisgender women.

Then there was the Illinois Republican Rep. Mary Miller, who called McBride a “gentleman” while speaking on the House floor. She later took to social media and bragged about it.

The vitriol extends beyond legislative measures. Some House Republicans have taken to social media platforms, spewing atrocious comments and perpetuating harmful stereotypes about transgender people. That, of course, includes the hideous Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene who in January accused McBride of being a “child predator.”

This is a deliberate and orchestrated campaign of hate and is reminiscent of the McCarthy era's tactics, when fearmongering and character assassination were tools to suppress dissent and diversity. However, in this case, the attacks are beyond personal. They are repugnant, and I use that word purposefully. McCarthy was the epitome of repugnant, and current House Republicans are echoing his disgusting behavior.

However, the assault on McBride and the transgender community by House Republicans surpasses even McCarthy's malice. The deliberate misgendering, the introduction of discriminatory bills, and the propagation of hate speech on social media are attacks on not just an individual but an entire group of people, fostering an environment of intolerance and exclusion.

The targeted harassment of McBride only fuels the transphobia that still permeates our society. When loathsome Republicans perpetuate the hate, it cascades out and gives bigoted individuals a permission structure to pile on with their own hate.

When I spoke to Democratic members of Congress recently, including House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Maxwell Frost, and Sen. Chris Murphy, they all said the same thing — basically that this hate campaign against McBride and the trans community is going to come back to haunt Republicans. To a person, they all echoed the same sentiment that Americans are not inherently cruel, and they don’t condone cruel treatment of fellow Americans, particularly those from marginalized communities.

In the face of such adversity, McBride has demonstrated remarkable resilience and grace. Her commitment to serving her constituents and advocating for equality remains steadfast, embodying the true spirit of public service. Her behavior is more indicative of what I remember when I worked on the Hill. Yes, members of Congress aren’t angels, but there was a level of civility that doesn’t exist today.

In the end, McBride’s presence in Congress is still a victory for the transgender community; however, being a first comes with enormous pain for that person who steps forward. McBride is bearing the brunt right now, but history will treat her with reverence.

Conversely, history will be downright cruel to the inhumanity — and the indecency — of today’s House Republicans.

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