Transgender Senator Makes Dramatic Exit From Chamber After Being Addressed as 'Sir'

After being mistakenly called “sir” by the lieutenant governor, a transgender state senator made a quick exit from the chamber.

Unexpected Exit

Virginia Senator Danica Roem was spotted leaving the session right after Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a member of the Republican Party, made the remark.

Apologies Delayed

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Initially, Earle-Sears held off on issuing an apology but eventually expressed regret to the chamber members. “It is never my intention to make anyone offended,” Earle-Sears remarked following a break after the incident.

Equality Under Law

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“I hope that others would consider that they would try not to offend me as well, we are all equal under the law,” Earle-Sears added. “I’m not here to upset anyone. I am here to do the job the people of Virginia have called me to do, and that is to treat everyone with respect and dignity.”

Repeated Apologies

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Seeking to mend fences, she addressed the chamber multiple times, saying, “I apologize, I apologize, I apologize.”

Bipartisan Support for Drug Price Bill

The context was a debate over House Bill 592, focusing on “emergency regulations related to prescription drug price transparency,” which received cross-party approval in the Virginia Senate on February 26.

Clarifying the Vote

In a captured moment, Roem stood to inquire from Earle-Sears about the necessary vote count for the bill to pass with an emergency clause.

“That would be four-fifths, Senator,” Earle Sears replied, and upon Roem’s further query for an exact figure, added, The lieutenant governor added: “Yes sir, that would be 32.”

Taking a Break

The session took a brief pause when Democrat Senator Scott Surovell requested a recess, which Earle Sears authorized. CBS covered that Roem had opted to go home for the remainder of the day, and she has remained silent on the matter since Earle-Sears’ misstep.

Historic Win

In a groundbreaking victory last year, Virginia Delegate Danica Roem has shattered yet another glass ceiling by securing a seat in the state Senate, becoming the first openly transgender individual to achieve this feat in Virginia and the second in the entire United States, after Delaware’s Sarah McBride in 2020.

Winning Support

Roem, representing the Democratic Party, triumphed over her Republican challenger, Bill Woolf, with a lead exceeding 3 percentage points. Woolf, with a background as a Fairfax County police officer, had the backing of Virginia’s Republican Governor, Glenn Youngkin.

Prioritizing People Over Politics

Expressing her gratitude, Roem stated then, “I’m grateful the people of Virginia’s 30th Senate district elected me to continue representing my lifelong home of western Prince William County and greater Manassas. The voters have shown they want a leader who will prioritize fixing roads, feeding kids and protecting our land instead of stigmatizing trans kids or taking away your civil rights.”

Breaking New Ground in Politics

Breaking new ground, Danica Roem, a former journalist, has previously made history as the first openly transgender person to be elected and take a seat in a state legislature, overcoming a deeply conservative veteran Virginia lawmaker.

LGBTQ+ Milestones

Annise Parker, the president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund—a national entity focused on electing LGBTQ individuals to public office—commented on Roem’s victory, labeling it a resounding rejection of those attempting to marginalize the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender individuals.

Unfazed by Hate

“Danica faced an unprecedented deluge of anti-trans hate on the campaign trail, but she was not phased nor distracted,” Parker, who has also served as Houston’s mayor, remarked.

A Commitment to Service

She highlighted that Roem’s commitment to her constituents’ priorities, such as improving infrastructure and ensuring food security for children and families,