The iWoman Report: Congresswoman misgendered, "Woke" words under attack, and Trans Olympic athletes at risk

Sarah McBride Misgendered in Congress Hearing

A House subcommittee hearing on Tuesday was abruptly adjourned after Representative Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, was misgendered during a contentious exchange with Republican lawmakers. McBride, a Democrat from Delaware, was recognized by Representative Keith Self, from Texas, the chairman of the Europe Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who addressed her as “Mr. McBride.” In response, McBride, a transgender woman, calmly corrected Self, saying, “Thank you, Madam Chair.” However, the situation escalated when Representative William Keating, a Democrat from Massachusetts, the subcommittee’s ranking member, demanded that Self repeat the introduction.

When Self once again referred to McBride as "Mr. McBride," Keating became visibly upset, calling Self "out of order" and questioning his decency. "Mr. Chairman, have you no decency?" Keating asked, adding, "This is not decent." Despite Self’s insistence on continuing the hearing, Keating refused to proceed unless McBride was properly introduced. In response to the confrontation, Self adjourned the hearing, abruptly ending the session.

The incident comes amid a broader pattern of attacks on McBride since she began her term in January. She had previously been misgendered by other Republican lawmakers, including Representative Mary Miller, R-Ill., and Representative Nancy Mace, R-S.C. After the incident, Self defended his actions in a post on X (formerly Twitter), citing a January executive order by President Donald Trump that recognizes only two biological sexes—male and female. McBride later responded on social media, expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to represent Delaware in Congress despite the mistreatment. "No matter how I'm treated by some colleagues, nothing diminishes my awe and gratitude at getting to represent Delaware," she wrote.

The episode highlights the ongoing tensions around transgender rights in Congress, especially regarding policies affecting McBride. Shortly after her election, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., introduced a policy after vicious outbursts by Rep. Nancy Mace, banning transgender people from using restrooms in the Capitol that align with their gender identity, directly targeting McBride. However, McBride expressed her focus on policy issues for Delawareans, saying, "I’m not here to fight about bathrooms. I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families."

“Woke” language ban

Federal agencies under the Trump administration have been instructed to limit or eliminate the use of hundreds of terms deemed “woke” as part of a broader initiative to reshape federal communication. According to a report by The New York Times, this move aligns with President Trump’s ongoing effort to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within the government. The directives have flagged a range of terms—some directly associated with marginalized groups or social justice issues—requiring their removal from public-facing websites, internal communications, and educational materials. Agencies have also been advised to use caution when employing certain words, and documents such as grant proposals and federal contracts containing flagged terms face additional scrutiny.

Among the words targeted for removal are phrases like “diversity,” “equity,” “systemic,” and “sense of belonging,” as well as more neutral terms such as “institutional” and “women.” Even seemingly innocuous descriptors like “Native American” and “political” have been flagged for restricted use, a reflection of the administration’s commitment to eliminating what it perceives as “woke” language. While not all of these terms have been explicitly banned, federal agencies have been directed to avoid them to prevent triggering a review by the administration. The Times analysis revealed that over 250 federal websites had altered or removed content to align with these guidelines, signaling a significant shift in how the government addresses issues related to race, identity, and inclusion.

Despite the Trump administration’s assertion that it champions free speech, these actions stand in stark contrast to that rhetoric. On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order titled “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship,” emphasizing that government-imposed speech restrictions were unacceptable. However, the administration's purge of specific terms from government communications appears to contradict this stance, raising concerns that the effort is more focused on silencing language that challenges conservative views. As the full scope of these changes remains unclear, many memos continue to offer vague guidance, leaving room for interpretation and further revisions to federal language.

List of banned words reported by the New York Times.

Olympic Committee Pressured to Ban Transgender Women

A group of Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to base eligibility for women’s athletic competitions on "biological sex," following President Trump’s recent executive order aimed at restricting transgender women and girls from competing in women’s sports. The Republicans’ letter, addressed to IOC President Thomas Bach, urges the committee to align the rules for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles with the order, which seeks to preserve what they argue is “fairness, safety, and equal opportunity” for female athletes. The letter was signed by over two dozen Republican senators and representatives, including Senator James Risch of Idaho and Representative Burgess Owens of Utah, both vocal opponents of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Currently, the IOC leaves eligibility for transgender women to compete in women’s events to the discretion of individual sports federations, with no universal mandate in place. The letter marks a continuation of the debate over transgender athletes in competitive sports, a topic that has become increasingly contentious in both political and cultural discussions. While the IOC has yet to respond to the request, the letter represents a strong push from Republicans to influence global policy ahead of the 2028 Games, which will take place in the U.S. In addition to advocating for this change in Olympic rules, the Republicans’ letter emphasizes the importance of ensuring "only biological women and girls" are allowed to compete in female categories.

This development comes just days before the IOC is set to elect a new president and discuss preparations for the 2028 Games. The Republicans’ call also follows the recent passage of a Republican-backed bill in the House aimed at banning transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports teams at K-12 schools. The letter highlights ongoing Republican efforts to restrict transgender participation in sports, a stance that has led to legislative and executive actions targeting trans women athletes. Additionally, Trump’s executive order from February directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to deny U.S. travel visas to athletes attempting to enter the country as women, further intensifying the political clash over transgender participation in competitive sports.