Tammy Duckworth says it’s ‘disgusting and wrong’ to not allow males into women’s bathrooms

After quizzing Duckworth about her opinion of some of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees, host Dana Bash asked the senator about House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) and his decision that “all single sex facilities in the Capitol and House office buildings such as restrooms, changing rooms and locker rooms are reserved for individuals of that biological sex.”

“This is of course, because the first transgender member of Congress, Sarah McBride, was just elected. Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace is leading the charge to prevent her from using the women’s bathrooms. What’s your reaction to this? And broadly, how should Democrats be approaching this issue of trans rights?” Bash inquired.

“Yeah, I think that we need to make sure that people are people. And frankly, you know, I think that we have so much else to worry about. We have, you know, budget deficits. We have crises all around the world. We have a humanitarian crisis going on in Gaza. We have Ukraine: Russia is making headway there and it’s an illegitimate invasion of Ukraine,” Duckworth said.

“We have issues here in this country. And yet she’s worried about one member of Congress using the bathroom. Number one, I think her position is disgusting and wrong but I also think that we have a lot more to worry about than where somebody goes to pee.”

Johnson said he would “not get into silly debates” over the issue but clearly stated his policy on transgender bathrooms. “For anybody who doesn't know my well-established record on this issue, let me be unequivocally clear, a man is a man, and a woman is a woman, and a man cannot become a woman. That said, I also believe — that's what scripture teaches, what I just said — but I also believe that we treat everybody with dignity, and so we can do and believe all those things at the same time. And I wanted to make that clear for everybody, because there's lots of questions, but that's where I stand. I've stood there my whole life. And those are facts.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) had a different opinion, proclaiming that the new bathroom policy "endangers girls of all kinds." She made the statement after Johnson issued his resolution in coordination with Mace, who has been the subject of threats and protests since being identified with the resolution.