U.S. Rep. Keith Self Ends Hearing Abruptly After Misgendering Colleague

A congressional hearing on arms control was unexpectedly cut short Tuesday after U.S. Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) misgendered his colleague, U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first openly transgender member of Congress.

The incident unfolded during a session of the Europe Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which Self chairs. 

As he introduced McBride, he referred to her as “Mr. McBride.” McBride responded pointedly with, “Thank you, Madam Chair,” before proceeding with her remarks.

However, U.S. Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) quickly intervened, asking Self to repeat his introduction. When Self again misgendered McBride, Keating voiced his frustration. 

“Mr. Chairman, you are out of order,” he said. “Mr. Chairman, have you no decency? I mean, I’ve come to know you a little bit. But this is not decent.”

Keating insisted that the hearing could not continue unless Self properly introduced McBride, prompting Self to adjourn the session entirely.

Later, Self defended his actions on social media, citing a Trump-era executive order stating that the federal government recognizes only two sexes, male and female.

McBride, for her part, downplayed the incident in a statement to reporters, expressing disappointment that Self chose to end the hearing prematurely. “I’m not here to fight about pronouns,” she said. “I’m here to make progress for Delawareans by lowering the cost of living and building a safer America.”

The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Congress over the rights and recognition of transgender individuals. 

House Republicans have previously refused to acknowledge McBride as a woman in official proceedings and have pushed measures barring transgender women from using women’s restrooms in the Capitol. 

In February, U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) referred to McBride as the “gentleman from Delaware” during her first floor speech, which McBride chose to ignore.

Tuesday’s clash adds to the broader political debate over transgender rights, with some lawmakers continuing to challenge the recognition of gender identities beyond the male-female binary.