Questioning on Women’s Pregnancy
Rep Josh Hawley: Professor Bridges, you said several times, you’ve used a phrase, I want to make sure I understand what you mean by it. You’ve referred to people with a capacity for pregnancy. Would that be women?
Khiara M. Bridges: Many women, cis women, have the capacity for pregnancy. Many cis women do not have the capacity for pregnancy. There are also trans men who are capable of pregnancy, as well as non-binary people who are capable of pregnancy.
Rep Josh Hawley: So this isn’t really a women‘s rights issue?
Khiara M. Bridges: We can recognize that this impacts women while also recognizing that it impacts other groups. Those things are not mutually exclusive, Senator Hawley.
Rep Josh Hawley: So your view is that the core of this right then is about what?
All of a Sudden Rep Hawley is Transphobic and Opening People to Violence
Khiara M. Bridges: So I want to recognize that your line of questioning is transphobic and it opens up trans people to violence by not recognizing that.
Rep Josh Hawley: Wow, you’re saying that I’m opening up people to violence by asking whether or not women are the folks who can have pregnancies?
Khiara M. Bridges: So I want to note that one out of five transgender persons have attempted suicide. So I think it’s important.
Questioning Trans Men Pregnancy Denies That They Exist
Rep Josh Hawley: Because of my line of questioning? So we can’t talk about it?
Khiara M. Bridges: Because denying that trans people exist and pretending not to know that they exist is dangerous.
Rep Josh Hawley: I’m denying that trans people exist by asking you if you’re talking about women having pregnancies.
Khiara M. Bridges: Do you believe that men can get pregnant?
Rep Josh Hawley: No, I don’t think I’m going to get pregnant.
Khiara M. Bridges: So you are denying that trans people exist
How Does Khiara M. Bridges Run Her Classroom
Rep Josh Hawley: and that leads to violence? Is this how you run your classroom? Are students allowed to question you?
Khiara M. Bridges: Absolutely.
Rep Josh Hawley: Or are they also treated like this?
Khiara M. Bridges: No, no, no. They’re allowed to question me.
Rep Josh Hawley: They’re told that they’re opening up people to violence by questioning.
Khiara M. Bridges: Oh, we have a good time in my class. You should join.
Rep Josh Hawley: I bet.
Khiara M. Bridges: You might learn a lot.
Rep Josh Hawley: Wow, I would learn a lot. I’ve learned a lot just in this exchange.
Khiara M. Bridges: I know. Absolutely.
Rep Josh Hawley: Extraordinary.
Khiara M. Bridges: Yep.
