During a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee meeting on March 11, Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first transgender person elected to Congress, was referred to as “Mister McBride” by Rep. Keith Self (R-TX), the subcommittee chairman.

It’s not the first time McBride and her GOP colleagues have been at odds about gender identity. And in coverage of these incidents, media outlets across the political spectrum continue to reflect very polarized views on transgender issues and acceptance.

AllSides refers to transgender individuals by their stated name and pronouns. Read more about this and our other Balanced Writing Standards.

When introducing McBride in the meeting, Self referred to her as "Mr. McBride," and McBride responded with, "Thank you, Madam Chair." Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA), the ranking member of the subcommittee, then asked Self to repeat his introduction and accused Self of being "out of order" and lacking "decency." Self insisted he was following "the standard on the floor of the House." When Keating demanded that Self either introduce McBride "the right way" or end the meeting, Self did the latter.

Representative William Keating, a Cape Cod Democrat, clashed with a Republican lawmaker who twice misgendered Sarah McBride, the first transgender woman to serve in Congress. https://t.co/FiLM1smdWn pic.twitter.com/MPHhLEroL8

— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) March 12, 2025

Many headlines from outlets from the left and center said Rep. Self misgendered Rep. McBride and that she was unfairly targeted. As for outlets on the right, most didn’t say McBride was “misgendered” and instead focused on Keating’s purportedly exaggerated reaction.

USA TODAY (Lean Left bias): House hearing abruptly ends after GOP lawmaker misgenders Sarah McBride

Fox News (Right): GOP lawmaker calls trans Dem 'Mr. McBride,' abruptly ends hearing after ultimatum from another Dem

MSNBC (Left): GOP lawmaker misgenders Rep. Sarah McBride, abruptly ends hearing after being confronted

Forbes (Center): House Hearing Ends In Clash After Rep. Sarah McBride Misgendered By Republican

HuffPost (Left): House Republican Ends Meeting After Getting Called Out For Misgendering Trans Colleague

NBC News (Lean Left): Republican adjourns hearing after exchange over Sarah McBride misgendering

Washington Examiner (Lean Right): House hearing unravels after Keith Self calls transgender Sarah McBride ‘mister’

The Daily Beast (Left): Fight Erupts as Texas Rep. Misgenders Trans Colleague

Within the articles, differences were even more pronounced.

The Hill (Center) said “Self’s intentional misgendering of McBride is not the first time the first-term lawmaker has faced jabs from her Republican colleagues over her identity.”

The Daily Caller (Right) focused on Keating "flipping out" in response to Self “referring to McBride as mister”. The outlet said McBride “is a biological male but identifies as a female.”

ABC News (Lean Left) said Self “targeted” and “misgendered” McBride, who “continues to face attacks from her Republican colleagues.”

The Daily Wire (Right) stood out by referring to McBride as “trans-identifying” rather than simply “transgender.” The Wire and many other outlets on the right prominently noted Self’s post on X after the exchange, saying, “It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female,” which refers to an executive order from President Donald Trump.

Quotes from McBride and her Republican opponents following the incident further illustrate the divide.

Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), who had a similar interaction with McBride in February, posted on X saying Self "is right to state the biological reality that Tim ‘Sarah’ McBride is a man. Enough with the lies. As God ordained and President Trump declared, there are only TWO GENDERS: Male and Female!" 

“No matter how I'm treated by some colleagues, nothing diminishes my awe and gratitude at getting to represent Delaware in Congress. It is truly the honor and privilege of a lifetime. I simply want to serve and to try to make this world a better place,” McBride wrote on X.

Be wary of how media outlets may slant reports to suit an agenda. Always seek primary sources, in the case the video of the exchange, to better inform your feelings and decisions about the story at hand.

Henry A. Brechter is the Editor-in-chief of AllSides. He has a Center bias.

Reviewed by:

News Editor Andy Gorel (Center bias)

News and Bias Assistant Malayna Bizier (Right)

News and Bias Assistant Emily Allen (Left)