Today, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) dropped her co-sponsorship of the Fairness for All Act, legislation which would write “sexual orientation and gender identity” into civil rights law. Two other House GOP members, Reps. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) and Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), have also withdrawn their support from the bill, but Stefanik is the highest-profile Republican as yet to do so.
This continues a recent trend of congressional Republicans backing away from supporting transgender causes. Last year, for example, only three House Republicans voted to pass the Equality Act after eight had done so in the previous Congress. Notably, three Republicans switched their vote: Reps. Stefanik, Van Drew, and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.). In addition, the only Republican Senate co-sponsor of the Equality Act last Congress, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), opted not to do so again, leaving it without any Republican supporters this year.
In response, Terry Schilling, president of American Principles Project (APP), released the following statement praising Stefanik’s decision:
“Most Americans, including the vast majority of Republicans, are in agreement that biological males should not have access to women’s spaces or be able to compete in women’s sports. It’s simple common sense. And yet, for some misguided reason, a few GOP members of Congress feel that caving on this issue is the best course of action. Because make no mistake: the Fairness for All Act would open the door to the full evisceration of women’s rights.
“Thankfully, Elise Stefanik and other Republicans have realized the danger and are pulling their support from this extreme legislation. We thank Rep. Stefanik for listening to voters and making the right decision, and we urge all remaining supporters of the bill to follow her lead. Otherwise, political consequences will be coming.”
