South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace has ignited a fierce debate with her proposal to ban transgender women from using women’s restrooms at the U.S. Capitol.

The resolution, which Mace says is meant to protect the “sanctity of biological women,” has drawn sharp criticism from progressive lawmakers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who claims it endangers women and girls instead of protecting them.

Mace introduced her resolution last week, which would require members, officers, and employees of the House to use single-sex facilities corresponding to their biological sex. She framed the measure as a stand for women’s safety and privacy, particularly in the Capitol, saying, “The sanctity of protecting women and standing up against the Left’s systematic erasure of biological women starts here in the nation’s Capitol.”

Mace, a survivor of sexual abuse, has been vocal about her belief that the policy is necessary to ensure women’s privacy and safety. Speaking on Fox & Friends Weekend, Mace defended the proposal, calling it “ludicrous” that women should be forced to undress or use the restroom alongside biological men. She also accused Democrats of hypocrisy, arguing that their policies have historically failed to protect women and girls.

The resolution sparked immediate backlash from Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, who criticized the measure on Capitol Hill. AOC argued that the resolution was not only discriminatory but also dangerous, claiming it could lead to invasive policing of women’s bodies.

“What it inevitably results in are women and girls who are primed for assault… because people are going to want to check their private parts in suspecting who is trans and who is cis,” AOC said. She went further, accusing Mace of wanting women to “drop trow” to enforce the rule, a claim Mace flatly denied, calling it “disgusting” and an outright falsehood.

The controversy comes just weeks before Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.), the first openly transgender lawmaker in Congress, is set to take office in January. Mace’s proposal, which would be enforced by the House sergeant at arms, appears poised to escalate the already heated national debate over gender identity, privacy, and safety in public spaces.

Since announcing the resolution, Mace has reported facing threats and public confrontations. “It’s sad and surprising that in 2024 I have to go on TV and on social media to explain to the radical left that men shouldn’t be allowed in women’s restrooms,” Mace said. She maintained that her proposal is about protecting women’s privacy and safety, not targeting individuals.

The controversy highlights a growing cultural divide over issues of gender identity and privacy. Advocates for transgender rights argue that measures like Mace’s are discriminatory and create a hostile environment for transgender individuals. Opponents, however, see such policies as necessary to preserve the rights and safety of women and girls in single-sex spaces.