Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, repeatedly used a transphobic slur during a House Oversight Committee hearing Wednesday, prompting pushback from one of her Democratic colleagues.
Mace first used the slur while questioning witnesses about USAID funding for gender-affirming health care in Guatemala. Ranking Member Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., later noted that the term used by Mace was derogatory, and Mace interrupted him by repeating it — three times — adding, “I don’t really care.”
Connolly said it was an issue of decorum and asked committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. to step in.
“I will be honest with the ranking member, I’m not up to date on my politically correct LGBTQ term — terminology,” Comer replied. “We’ll look into that and get back with you on that. I don’t know what’s offensive and what’s not. I don’t know much about pronouns.”
The exchange was brief, but Mace clipped videos of her using the slur in the hearing and later posted them on her social media accounts. In one of her posts on X, she accused “the left” of trying to censor her.
Mace, who once claimed to be an LGBTQ ally, has been on a increasingly ugly anti-trans crusade. In November, she introduced a resolution to ban trans women from using women’s restrooms in the Capitol in response to Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride, an openly trans woman, being elected to Congress. The policy was not included in the House rules package that passed in its first session, but Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., included the ban in the 119th Congress’ policies.
In recent months, Mace has repeatedly posted on social media about trans people. She has frequently misgendered McBride and promoted falsehoods about the trans community. She has hawked merchandise to raise funds off her anti-trans attacks. Mace has framed her transphobia as an effort to champion the safety of women and children — and she has put herself squarely at the center of that campaign.