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South Carolina Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace’s was recently accused of supporting transgender people, but rather than taking it as a compliment, Mace was reportedly livid.
Despite her history of campaigning on transphobic lies, regularly posting anti-trans messages on social media and scoring a dismal 17 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Congressional Scorecard, one of her supporters accused her of being not transphobic.
The supporter claimed Mace supported trans people because she wore a tuxedo to last weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner. This comment triggered a strong reaction from Mace, who has been known to use transphobia as a tool to win elections.
The comment was made by Randan Steinhauser, a self-described “Counter-Cultural Christian Conservative WOMAN,” according to her Twitter bio. Steinhauser also raised Mace’s stance on abortion during her tweet.
She wrote:
"[Nancy Mace]—I have known you for a longtime. But your recent anti-life statements & positions are very concerning."
"Further, as our culture continues to undermine women by celebrating men who pretend to be them—why would you choose to wear a tux to the WHCD?"
You can see her tweet below.
\u201c@NancyMace - I have known you for a longtime. But your recent anti-life statements & positions are very concerning. \n\nFurther, as our culture continues to undermine women by celebrating men who pretend to be them \u2014 why would you choose to wear a tux to the WHCD?\u201d— Randan Steinhauser (@Randan Steinhauser) 1682883194
Mace responded with multiple tweets, the first one criticizing Steinhauser's "pearl clutching" and attacks against her appearance while referencing Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale by saying:
"This ain't Gilead."
You can see her tweet below.
\u201cWhen they can\u2019t win the policy or the debate, they go straight for your appearance. So it goes\u2026 \n\nThis ain\u2019t Gilead. \n\nAnd the pearl clutching has me \ud83d\ude44.\u201d— Nancy Mace (@Nancy Mace) 1682948337
Mace later posted a photo in which she compared herself to former First Lady Melania Trump, who wore a tuxedo at a previous event and criticized Steinhauser further:
"Curious… who wore it better? Then vs. now? I love freedom and liberty, including being free to wear a tux."
"[Randan Steinhauser] Your attacks on me today are pretty antithetical. But you do you."
You can see her tweet below.
\u201cCurious\u2026 who wore it better? Then vs. now?\n\nI love freedom and liberty, including being free to wear a tux. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\n\n@RandanMarie Your attacks on me today are pretty antithetical. But you do you.\n\n#ConstitutionalConservative\n#IndependentVoice\u201d— Nancy Mace (@Nancy Mace) 1682887770
But of course the transphobic Mace couldn't help but tweet an attack against transgender people, as if to stress her anti-LGBTQ+ bonafides to her conservative base.
She tweeted footage of herself attacking transgender equality, adding:
"We want to protect women and girls. Biological men should not be in female locker rooms, or competing against women in sports."
You can see her tweet below.
\u201cWe want to protect women and girls. Biological men should not be in female locker rooms, or competing against women in sports.\u201d— Nancy Mace (@Nancy Mace) 1682949236
The exchange has exposed both women to significant criticism.
\u201c@NancyMace THIS is what you think will help the people of your district? THIS is you and your party\u2019s main issue? DO BETTER!\u201d— Nancy Mace (@Nancy Mace) 1682949236
\u201c@NancyMace Raise the debt ceiling and quit playing around. You guys get so excited when you find a new lane for discrimination. Look at ya all giddy.\u201d— Nancy Mace (@Nancy Mace) 1682949236
\u201c@NancyMace "We want to protect women and girls."\n\nBut you vote FOR forced pregnancy, AGAINST maternity leave, AGAINST equal pay, AGAINST health care for all ... it's a long list.\n\nAll of those are bigger threats than a transgender person in a public bathroom or on a sports team.\u201d— Nancy Mace (@Nancy Mace) 1682949236
\u201c@RandanMarie @NancyMace imagine being pressed over clothes\u201d— Randan Steinhauser (@Randan Steinhauser) 1682883194
\u201c@RandanMarie @NancyMace It\u2019s clothes. Relax.\u201d— Randan Steinhauser (@Randan Steinhauser) 1682883194
\u201c@RandanMarie @NancyMace What's it like being a terrible person?\u201d— Randan Steinhauser (@Randan Steinhauser) 1682883194
Since taking office, Mace has attempted to portray herself as a moderate alternative to extremist Republicans, such as Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, whom she has called “bats**t crazy” on social media.
However, her voting record is still extreme, as shown by her statement in 2021 that COVID-19 vaccines were unnecessary on Fox News and her subsequent support for the vaccines on CNN.
Mace’s past use of transphobia as a political tool shows she is willing to resort to lies and hate speech to win elections. Her recent overreaction to one tweet about her outfit choice suggests she may still view transphobia as an effective political strategy.