US Lawmaker Insults Trans Doctor During Hearing: Sheer Display Of Disdain And Ignorance

The world can accept gender only in binary terms and the latest example of it is Arkansas lawmaker Matt McKees's arrogance. McKees humiliated a transgender healthcare professional in front of people and targeted a question referring to her genitals. Indeed, alpha males like Mckees feel something that is not acceptable to them is not right for the world. Also, why do men think they can arrogantly go and talk rubbish about people's sexual orientation? Is it allowed to shame a professional doctor based on sexual preferences?

Arkansas Lawmaker Insults Trans Doctor

The incident took place at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on a bill that would prohibit gender-affirming care for minors. A transgender female identified as Gwendolyn Herzig is a pharmacist and testified on 13 February, Monday in support of the treatment for minors during a state hearing. Arkansas lawmaker asked Herzig whether she is a trans woman and does she has a penis. Herzig politely dismissed the question saying, "I'm a health care professional, a doctor. Please treat me as such. Next question, please." The Arkansas lawmaker kept pestering her despite the audience audibly gasping and calling it disgraceful. He had the audacity to warn the audience for booing him. This is so unfair audience was reprimanded but not McKee for his inappropriate question. It is shameful.

If someone as reputed as McKees is seen as transphobic, it is to be expected from common people. McKees showing such aggression towards Herzig is an impression of what people in power think. If McKee is so secure with his sexuality and masculinity it shouldn’t matter what Herzig has between her legs. Asking such an insensitive question to a transperson who has already gone through so much is insensitive. Besides, who gives the right to bash a professional publicly? In no opinion, any professional irrespective of gender shouldn't be mistreated as Herzig was at the hands of McKees. The transgender community already face their share of problems, from accepting themselves to creating a respectable place in society. The taboos and shame are so high, a transgender has no choice but to pick the wrong routes. If trans people are making progress why this shaming? Just to put them down and joke out of their misery in front of people. If lawmakers are this crass and do not have a progressive attitude toward individual choices, what message it shall pass?

In fact, this hearing was about prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors. A downright problematic question had nothing to do with her ability to speak credibly on the topic. Think, if the lawmakers draw it in such a wrong light, how a young person will perceive it? Without giving it a thought, talking trash will do no good to minors. This is to protect them and not push them more towards wrong routes, where loneliness, self-doubt, and depression hovers.

In 2021, Arkansas banned gender-affirming care for minors, but a federal judge temporarily blocked the law. More than protection this is the control exerted. No one wants to have a life full of confusion, misery, and shaming from people. It is already known how difficult to fight with sexuality and assert it. McKees is doing nothing but creating fear. To speak on banned gender-affirming care, definitely prohibitions must be set but not with such a biased mindset. Every part of needs to be carefully analysed, and the possible decision should be made. Not what McKees has been doing.

Coming back to Gwendolyn Herzig, McKees needs to apologise not only to Herzig but to the entire transgender community to whom he has hurt the feelings. Also, McKees's highly inappropriate question to ask in place of work, could be deemed sexual harassment. Unfortunately, that will be neglected.

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