Mike Johnson fights back against radical gender ideology



I traveled around the country as an elite swimmer for more than a decade, and I could never have imagined a world where men would be welcomed into the female-only bathrooms and locker rooms I used. I instinctively knew that separate spaces were for my privacy and protection. But as I have shared my own story about having to compete against a grown man in the pool, I’ve seen how broken our nation’s understanding of sex is.

It's come so far that even organizations that were once “pro-woman” have completely rejected the basic understandings of woman and womanhood.

The gender ideology madness must stop, both for the protection and privacy of women and girls and for the long-term health of the rising generation.

Earlier this year the National Women’s Law Center, an organization supposedly founded by women to protect women, filed a brief opposing my suit against the NCAA on the grounds that “woman” should be redefined to include men.

When leading “pro-woman” organizations are engaged in a campaign of lies about basic physiology and anatomy — when they support men more than they support women — we need leaders who are bold. We need leaders who speak out and refuse to cave to critics.

Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) did just that. He sent shock waves through the media for saying something so painfully obvious that it would have gone unnoticed even a few years ago. Johnson simply said: Men are men, women are women, men cannot become women. He understands that the government should protect men’s and women’s privacy, safety, and opportunity.

For nearly all of congressional history, this sentiment was so widely understood that it did not need articulating. But in our modern world, where traditional definitions of sex have been conflated with completely flexible and ever-changing understandings of “gender identity,” Speaker Johnson might as well have set off a grenade.

His comments were made as all newly elected members of Congress were beginning their orientation in Congress. One of those new members is Sarah McBride, a Delaware man who says he identifies as a woman.

I know Speaker Johnson, and he is a man of principle and faith. Just a few months ago, he hosted a panel regarding Title IX protections and invited me, former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), and Independent Women’s Forum Chairman Heather Higgins. He was clear about his positions and criticized the Biden administration’s efforts to change the definition of “sex” to include “gender identity” under Title IX.

Johnson once again showed leadership last week on the critical issue of protecting women. He used his authority over the Capitol’s facilities as speaker of the House to ensure single-sex facilities would remain separated by sex and to protect women-only spaces.

This is not an attack on Rep. McBride (D), as some in the media are suggesting. In fact, Johnson noted that McBride is a duly elected member of Congress who deserves to be treated with dignity as a human being and with the respect that comes with high public office.

But McBride is also a victim of the modern gender ideology that says men can become women and that tells individuals suffering from gender dysphoria that the issue lies with their bodies, not with their minds. The treatments offered to these people can end in sterility, loss of sexual function, and numerous other devastating and irreversible medical issues.

The Independent Women’s Forum has detailed the stories of many detransitioners who have had their bodies mutilated by doctors who told them to take puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones and have healthy body parts surgically removed. Many of these detransitioned men and women are now suffering from intense regret along with permanent physical damage, but as they have spoken out and tried to warn others, they have been excoriated by the same left-wing media and activist class that has been demonizing Johnson’s decision to stand with women.

The gender ideology madness must stop, both for the protection and privacy of women and girls and for the long-term health of the rising generation. Right now, all Americans who care about the future and safety of their daughters, or nieces, or sisters, or cousins have a responsibility to speak up and reject the lies of our modern age that call men women and women men. Mike Johnson is standing up for women everywhere by taking a stand to keep men out of women’s bathrooms in the House. I hope his actions inspire leaders across the country to do the same.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire.

From feminism to ‘theminism’: Nancy Mace faces liberal fury in Congress



The opposition Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has received from her progressive female colleagues in Congress is a clear sign that “theminism” is a far stronger political force than feminism.

Mace recently submitted a resolution to ban men from women’s restrooms in the U.S. Capitol. She did so because Tim McBride, who “identifies” as a woman called Sarah, was elected to Congress in November and will become Mace’s colleague in January.

The fact that liberals have become libertines and conservatives don’t know what they want to conserve is a sign of our culture’s spiritual sickness.

Mace has spent several days posting videos about her desire to protect women in their private spaces, including bathrooms and locker rooms. Unsurprisingly, progressive women don’t have her back.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called her Republican colleague’s attempts to keep natal males out of the women’s bathroom “disgusting” and said she would put “girls of all kinds” in danger. Former “Today Show” host Katie Couric said she was “disappointed” that Mace was being “bigoted” toward McBride.

All of this comes at a time when Democrats, still reeling from their recent electoral drubbing, are doubling down on their support of radical gender ideology. Jen Psaki recently tried to minimize the issue of boys in girls’ sports on her show. John Oliver did the same on his show.

None of this should come as a surprise. Some of the most outspoken women in our culture on abortion rights, pay equity, climate change, and politics are now scared to speak about the very thing they have built their identity around: womanhood. They spent decades trying to smash the patriarchy only to submit to the men leading the “theytriarchy.”

The party that spent the last few months saying it would defend women is unwilling to define a “woman” publicly. The feminist movement has laid down its sword, raised the white flag of surrender, and bowed in submission to the handful of “impossible women” who are society’s latest oppressed group.

Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem are hailed as the matriarchs of the Second Wave feminist movement that sought to give women greater access to higher education and professional opportunities. But Shulamith Firestone, a radical feminist, was vocal about her desire to see sex itself abolished in her 1971 book “The Dialectic of Sex: The Case for Feminist Revolution”:

And just as the end goal of socialist revolution was not only the elimination of the economic class privilege but of the economic class distinction itself, so the end goal of feminist revolution must be, unlike that of the first feminist movement, not just the elimination of male privilege but of the sex distinction itself: genital differences between human beings would no longer matter culturally.

Firestone died alone in her apartment in 2012 after years of living with schizophrenia, but she saw where the feminist movement was headed more than a half-century ago. The trans movement is a feature of her feminist utopia, but it’s a bug to women like Mace, who tout their “girl power” credentials and brag about supporting gay marriage.

This is one of the reasons we are here today. A hallmark of progressivism is the desire to reshape reality by controlling the dictionary. Liberals — in both parties — transformed the government’s definition of marriage from a union between one man and one woman to a contract between any two consenting adults. For now. They are attempting to do the same with sex by pushing the notion it’s possible to be a male “woman” or female “man.”

Only time will tell whether Republicans will develop the spine to see this battle all the way through. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) tried to dodge a direct question about McBride’s sex at a press conference before affirming the sex binary in a follow-up statement. Getting Jimmy off of Jane’s field hockey team is one thing. But forcing girls to refer to hulking teenage boys as “she” and “her” is a sign the roots of this twisted ideology are still firmly in place. The only thing that can withstand the current wave — and all the ones to come — is a renewed cultural mindset firmly rooted in biblical truth.

No other ideology can assure victory because this is ultimately not a partisan problem. The fact that liberals have become libertines and conservatives don’t know what they want to conserve is a sign of our culture’s spiritual sickness. It’s impossible to rebuild American families if we live in a society where people are confused about which sex has the babies.

The fact people are attacking Nancy Mace for her campaign to “Make Women Female Again” is a sign we’re continuing on our downward slide into madness. Only God can save us now. In the end, the choice is clear: We are either going to have Christ or chaos.

Bathroom battles expose GOP’s identity crisis on sex and gender



American statesmen have a long and storied history, but it’s crucial never to take politicians too seriously. Democratic proceedings often carry a carnival-like aspect. Still, it’s hard not to imagine America’s founders looking down in dismay at the daily shame visited upon the republic they established. The recent election of a man identifying as a woman to the U.S. House of Representatives marks just the latest embarrassment. U.S. Rep. Tim McBride (D-Del.), who now calls himself Sarah, has become a lightning rod for controversy. Yet, the Republicans’ clumsy and timid response to the situation has been even more disappointing.

McBride’s election raised concerns among several female members about sharing restrooms with a biological man. These concerns echo back to 2016, when Target announced a policy allowing men who identified as transgender to use women’s restrooms.

A decisive electoral win cannot be followed by a retreat into the lazy, reactionary habit of merely responding to the left’s narrative.

Shortly after, the Obama administration issued a directive to schools, requiring them to permit transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding to their gender identity. Gyms, pools, and other public facilities soon followed suit, forcing women and girls to endure men exposing themselves in spaces that had traditionally been female-only.

Wokeness had not yet become a mainstream term, but the events of 2016 marked the opening salvo in a prolonged cultural battle. What was once known as social justice or political correctness had morphed into a far more extreme movement. In a rational world, the absurdity of this ideology would have rendered it dead on arrival. Yet, eight years later, the nation is still grappling with the bizarre question of whether a man can become a woman.

In response to this ongoing debate, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) introduced a resolution requiring House members to use the bathroom corresponding to their biological sex, not the clothing they chose to wear that day. This resolution was entirely reasonable and should have been easy for Republicans to defend. Unfortunately, the GOP’s handling of the situation turned into a clown show.

Johnson chokes

The first misstep occurred when Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) refused to answer a straightforward question about whether McBride was a man or a woman. During a press conference addressing the issue of bathrooms and locker rooms, Johnson dodged the question multiple times, instead stating that every member deserved dignity and respect. While this sentiment is true, it was obvious that Johnson used it to evade directly addressing McBride’s sex.

Given the topics covered in the press conference, Johnson should have anticipated the question and prepared a clear response. McBride is a man — full stop. As the leader of the Republican-controlled House charged with advancing Donald Trump’s agenda, Johnson’s hesitation was baffling.

The uproar over Johnson’s evasive response forced him to hold a second press conference, where he finally stated his belief that a man cannot become a woman. Johnson claimed the question was so absurd that he initially chose not to dignify it with an answer. Given his earlier hesitation, however, this explanation rang hollow. Notably, Johnson still avoided explicitly stating that McBride is a man or committing to specific actions to protect female members of the House.

If Johnson’s handling of this controversy reflects how he plans to approach implementing the MAGA agenda, it raises serious concerns about his leadership. His timidity in addressing fundamental issues does not inspire confidence.

Mace reaps what she sowed

The second misstep came from Mace herself. While her efforts to protect female colleagues reflected the right instinct, her execution left much to be desired. After describing herself as a feminist, Mace posted on X (formerly Twitter):

This is so strange to me. 25 years ago, I was celebrated as the first woman to graduate from a formerly all-male military college. Today I’m being attacked as a 'bigot' for fighting for women’s rights. The radical Left has lost its mind.

Using the left’s framing and language is always a misstep. Attempting to validate opponents’ positions to expose perceived hypocrisy often results in rhetorical failure for conservatives. More troubling, however, is the cognitive dissonance revealed in Mace’s statement.

On one hand, Mace seeks to defend female-only spaces, operating under the conservative belief that men and women are inherently different and that women deserve spaces apart from men. On the other hand, she wants to be celebrated as a feminist for breaking gender barriers at the Citadel, a formerly all-male military college. Mace wants to be honored for helping to deconstruct male-only spaces but, like so many before her, she is horrified when the cultural revolution she championed arrives at her own bathroom door.

A military college and a bathroom are not the same, obviously. Allowing men into female bathrooms and sports raises immediate safety concerns, and efforts to protect women in these spaces are entirely justified. However, discussions with combat veterans about the effects on unit safety and cohesion after introducing women to front-line roles reveal parallels that are more striking than they first seem.

A time for clarity

Mike Johnson needs to grow a spine, but much more importantly, the conservative movement needs to decide what it really believes about men and women. Are men and women inherently different, or does that belief only apply when it benefits women? Does biological reality influence societal roles and structures beyond bathrooms and soccer fields? Do men matter, or are “women’s rights” only a conservative talking point because they allow the movement to engage within the left's framework?

The fact that, in 2024, Republicans have yet to answer these basic questions is both embarrassing and troubling. To lead and capitalize on the future possibilities created by President Trump’s historic re-election victory, conservatives must understand their identity and core beliefs. A decisive electoral win cannot be followed by a retreat into the lazy, reactionary habit of merely responding to the left’s narrative.

Ridiculous failures, like the one we just witnessed, are inevitable when a movement lacks a clear sense of purpose and conviction. Republicans must address these issues swiftly, as the American people delivered a decisive mandate and expect strong leadership — not a political comedy sketch.

Starbucks may end its open-bathroom policy that was enacted after national boycott, CEO cites safety issues



Who could have predicted this? Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said last week the coffee chain may end its policy allowing the general public to use its restrooms.

While speaking at a forum hosted by the New York Times last Thursday, Schultz disclosed that one of the biggest problems facing Starbucks employees today is mental health and store safety.

"We serve 100 million people at Starbucks, and there is an issue of just safety in our stores, in terms of people coming in who use our stores as a public bathroom, and we have to provide a safe environment for our people and our customers," Schultz explained.

"We have to harden our stores and provide safety for our people," he explained, adding, "I don’t know if we can keep our bathrooms open."

What is the background?

Starbucks announced in May 2018 that bathrooms inside its coffee shops across the country would be open for anyone to use — whether or not they are paying customers.

"We don't want to become a public bathroom, but we're going to make the right decision a hundred percent of the time and give people the key," Schultz said at the time. "Because we don't want anyone at Starbucks to feel as if we are not giving access to you to the bathroom because you are less than."

The company enacted the policy after two black men were denied use of a Starbucks bathroom in Philadelphia. The men never ordered anything. When they did not leave the shop, an employee called police, and the men were arrested for trespassing. No criminal charges were filed against them, and they eventually reached a settlement with Starbucks.

Still, the incident triggered a nationwide boycott of Starbucks.

After the incident, Starbucks forced its employees to attend an intensive racial-bias training, even closing all of its stores one day in late May 2018 for the training.

"I think it's fair to say that most people have some level of unconscious bias based on our own life experience," Schultz said of the training at the time. "So there's going to be a lot of education about how we all grew up, how we see the world and how we can be better."