Trans Virginia Lawmaker Storms Out Of Chamber After Being Called 'Sir'

Senator Danica Roem, a transgender state senator from the United States, abruptly left a plenary session when Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sear addressed them as “Sir.”

According to The Guardian, a prominent Virginia Republican has expressed regret for repeatedly misgendering a state senate Democrat, to the point where the chamber's legislative activity was temporarily halted.

“We are all equal under the law. And so I apologize, I apologize, I apologize, and I would hope that everyone would understand there is no intent to offend but that we would also give each other the ability to forgive each other,” the lieutenant governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, said in an address to the state senate on Monday.

Earle-Sears, 59, was asked how many votes were required to pass a bill on prescription drug prices with an emergency clause by Danica Roem, a state senator from Prince William county and the first openly transgender person to serve in any state legislature.

“Madame President, how many votes would it take to pass this bill with the emergency clause?” Roem asked Earle-Sears, who was presiding over a legislative session at the time. Earle-Sears responded: “Yes, sir, that would be 32.”

Roem walked out of the room after being misgendered. Earle-Sears initially refused to apologize for the mistake but finally did so after two separate recesses.

The lieutenant governor insisted that she didn't intend to aggravate anyone.

“I am here to do the job that the people of Virginia have called me to do, and that is to treat everyone with respect and dignity.” Earle-Sears said.

She added: “I myself have at times not been afforded that same respect and dignity.”