Bianca Harkless
Editor-In-Chief
Transgender issues are always a heavily debated topic when it comes to courts of all levels. With religious disagreements to claims of civil rights violations, it is no wonder why the House of Representatives Rep. Marie Newman of Illinois and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia have taken to disputing the issue both in and outside of the House.
The whole ordeal started out due to the Equality Act moving its way through Congress. According to this article by ABC News, the bill was supposed to protect the LGBTQ from discrimination in the workplace, housing, service, and public accommodations, ending discimination of the basis of sex, gender, or sexuality. The bills passed (236-173), making history as it was the first time Congress passed a comprehensive bill of LGBTQ civil rights to protect the people who identify with the label through daily life, according to this tweet by the Human Right Campaign.
This was a joyous victory for many, including Democrat Marie Newman, who choked back tears on the floor of the House, talking about her own transgender daughter. “I knew from that day on my daughter would be living in a nation, where in most of its states, she would be discriminate against merely because who she is,” Newman said recalling the time of heavy emotion after her daughter came out to her, “And yet it was the happiest day of my life, and my daughter had found her authentic self.”
Though, this joyous moment was not shared by everyone. Rep. Greene attempted to halt the bills movements by saying that it would force her biologically female daughter to compete in sports and share locker rooms with “Biologically” males. She openly denounced the bill on her Twitter, in this tweet specially, saying “I OPPOSE this disgusting, evil, immoral ‘Equality’ Act!” She also put out another tweet, replying to Rep. Marie Newman sharing a video of why she voted yes on the Equality Bill that talked about her daughters struggles. Rep. Greene commented on the video, “But your biological son does NOT belong in my daughters’ bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports teams.”
In response to the comment against her video, Representative Newman put out a Transgender Pride flag along with her America and state flag next to her office at the House of Representatives and made a video of it. Another important thing to note is that the two Representatives offices are directly across from one another. Angered by the flag and video, Rep. Greene responded by putting a sign that says “There are TWO genders: MALE & FEMALE ‘That’s just science!’”
There has been no further realtiations or comments from one representative to the other, via social media that I was able to uncover. While the topic is tense and very uncomfortable, the Equality Bill passed, securing rights for the LGBTQ and ending religious freedom and women’s rights, depending on who you ask. Everyone here at the Eagle’s Eye encourages you to look into the topic yourself before forming your opinion on the matter!
Image Credit: Forbes.com
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