A Chicago advocate for transgender youths, James McIntyre, has been accused of assaulting Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican hailing from South Carolina known for her strong opposition to trans rights. The alleged altercation occurred at the Capitol and involved what some witnesses describe as an impassioned handshake, while others, including Mace, claim it was an aggressive act. McIntyre pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge of assaulting a government official, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Leading a charge that would ban the first transgender woman elected to Congress from using women's bathrooms, Rep. Mace took to social media claiming she was "physically accosted" by a man advocating for trans rights. However, at the heart of the accusation, three witnesses with McIntyre's foster care advocacy group told MSNBC that what transpired seemed to be nothing beyond a handshake accompanied by a comment about the need for support for transgender youths in foster care.
The alleged incident has prompted Mace to bolster her fundraising efforts, drawing on the narrative of the encounter to seek financial backing for her political endeavors. According to a statement obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, Mace sent an email to supporters, framing the event as an attempt to silence those who "defend us," calling for donations to further her fight against what she terms as "biological men from entering women's spaces on ALL federal property."
McIntyre is no stranger to advocacy, having been recognized within the foster care community for his efforts. Placed into the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as a child with his four sisters, he suffered from abuse in his adoptive family. McIntyre's experiences fueled his commitment to improving the lives of foster children, earning him accolades like the Public Citizen of the Year Award from the National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter in 2019, as per the Chicago Sun-Times. His case is continuing, with a court date set for Jan. 27.
