Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears spoke to the legislature about “respect and dignity” after a state senator walked out of the chamber during a session.
That senator was Democrat Danica A. Roem, 39, who became the first transgender member of the House of Delegates upon being elected in 2017.
Roem’s exit came after being referred to as “sir” by Earle-Sears during an exchange about the number of votes needed to pass a new bill.
“Madame President, how many votes would it take to pass this bill with the emergency clause?” Roem is heard asking Earle-Sears who was presiding over the session in video clips posted to social media.
“That would be four-fifths, Senator,” Earle-Sears responded in the debate over House Bill 592.
Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears doesn’t care what you identify as—she’s gonna refer to you by your biological pronouns. pic.twitter.com/FyLXBQoN7T
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 26, 2024
When Roem tried to clarify the exact number, Earle-Sears replied, “Yes sir, that would be 32.”
The senator did not add further comment but could be seen walking out of the chamber, prompting Democrat Senator Scott Surovell to call for a recess.
According to The Progress-Index, a newspaper out of Petersburg, Va.:
After two recesses and her initial refusal to apologize, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears eventually said she was sorry, but she did not specifically say that to Sen. Danica Roem, D-Prince William County. Instead, she looked at each section of the chamber and said, “I apologize.”
“I understand Senator Roem is upset,” Earle-Sears said after a recess.
“I’m not here to upset anyone. I’m here to do the job the people of Virginia have called me to do,” she added. “That is to treat everyone with respect and dignity. I myself have at times not been afforded that same respect and dignity.
“But In this body, as long as I am president of the Senate, and by the grace of God, I will be treated with respect and dignity. And I will treat everyone else with respect and dignity,” the former Marine and first black woman to preside over the state Senate continued.
The Republican lieutenant governor reportedly asserted that there was no “intent” to offend anyone.
“It is never my intention to make anyone offended,” Earle-Sears said.
“I hope that others would consider that they would try not to offend me as well, we are all equal under the law,” she added. ” I apologize, and I would hope everyone would understand there’s no intent to offend.”
Roem, who unseated 13-term incumbent Republican Bob Marshall in 2017 and then became the first transgender senator elected to Virginia’s upper chamber, reportedly went home for the day after the incident and has not commented publicly, according to CBS News.
Social media erupted over the incident with the left coming unglued over Earle-Sears’ perceived lack of respect.
The Democrat mayor of Richmond, Levar Stoney, called the misgendering “abhorrent,” adding that “Her refusals to backtrack fail to represent true Virginia values. This must be denounced uniformly and unequivocally.”
Winsome Sears out here showing how ingrained transphobia is within the @VA_GOP. Refusing to apologize to @pwcdanica after misgendering her is the height of disrespect. Do better. https://t.co/96I92xDtbr
— Henrico Democrats (@HenricoDems) February 26, 2024
This behavior is unbecoming and beneath the office of the Lt. Governor. No one should ever misgender or malign someone based on their identity, and then refuse to apologize or admit fault.
We stand proudly with @pwcdanica and hope that she is given the respect she has deserves. https://t.co/EQjrx8jByQ
— Virginia Young Dems (@VAYD) February 26, 2024
Democrat Susanna Gibson blasted Earle-Sears for daring to “sully” the Governor’s mansion. This lack of self-awareness coming from the mother of two who ran for Virginia’s House of Delegates last year but made headlines because she reportedly “performed sex acts with her husband for a live online audience and encouraged viewers to pay them with ‘tips’ for specific requests,” according to The Washington Post.
And the meltdown continued.
This is gross. @pwcdanica is a serious, accomplished, innovative legislature.
She gets things done for her constituents, and she champions issues for Virginians. Her work to get more hungry kids fed during the school day is one example.
She didn’t deserve this cheap insult. https://t.co/5BO0a2nW6O
— Kyle McDaniel (@KyleMcDaniel89) February 26, 2024
But there were plenty on the other side, defending Earle-Sears and ripping leftists.
To honor black history month, Virginia’s first black female Lt. Governor gets attacked by unhinged liberals for calling a spade a spade. You don’t matter to the Democrat Party unless you walk, think, & talk like them.
To Virginia’s history maker @winsomesears, we honor you! ❤️ https://t.co/oFBi65w5cf
— Yesli Vega (@yestoyesli) February 26, 2024
All @WinsomeSears did was prove she’s pro-science. What’s wrong with that? https://t.co/8YbiENbqni
— Doug Powers (@ThePowersThatBe) February 27, 2024
We live in a time where it is deemed “abhorrent” to call a man sir lol
Our founding fathers are rolling in their graves
I stand for common sense so I stand with @WinsomeSears https://t.co/J4Am4kcLRw
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) February 27, 2024
If you are wondering what is behind this absolutely unhinged and maniacal reaction from dems and their media allies to Winsome Sears calling a man ‘sir’, it’s simple and has nothing to do with transgenderism or pronouns.
They are desperate to take down a conservative black… pic.twitter.com/PBctOOS9dg
— Gunner (@Not_so_Ernest) February 27, 2024
I do not fault Lt. Gov Sears. @WinsomeSears – more power to you – and congrats on your role as 1st woman Lt. Gov of VA.
Sen Roem can dress and LARP as whomever – it doesn’t mean other people have to play along. @pwcdanica Deal with the issues your life choices cause – women are…
— Morgana Le Faye *Patriot *America 1st* (@Keltic_Witch) February 27, 2024
Badass. Righteous. Tested. Coolest name in politics. I’ll take Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears in a rout on this one. pic.twitter.com/l4HWrdPzL2
— Bogie (@bogie_usa) February 27, 2024
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