(NewsNation) — The Virginia Senate chamber was engulfed in controversy Monday as State Sen. Danica Roem, the first transgender person to serve in the Virginia Legislature, walked out during a routine political exchange after being referred to by the lieutenant governor as “sir.”
The tense moment unfolded during a typical legislative exchange between Roem and Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears. When Sears responded to Roem’s inquiry with “Yes, sir,” referencing the vote count, Roem, who identifies as a woman, walks out of the chamber.
Roem’s departure occurred during a roll call vote moments later, in which she chose not to participate. However, Sears addressed the incident, expressing regret over what she called an unintended offense.
“I said something that upset Senator Roem,” Sears stated. “Let it be known, I am not here to upset anyone. I am here to do the job that the people of Virginia have called me to do, and that is to treat everyone with respect and dignity.”
But Roem’s absence during Sears’ apology led to questions about the gravity of the incident and whether a simple mistake warranted such a dramatic response.
“I don’t think she stormed out. I think she removed herself from the situation,” said Charlotte Clymer, a transgender activist supporting Roem’s decision, in a Wednesday interview on “Dan Abrams Live.”
“No matter what Senator Roem did, she would be criticized. If she had spoken up against it, she would have been called angry. If she had not said anything, she would have allowed a mistake to go unchecked,” Clymer said.
Clymer emphasized that while mistakes are inevitable, accountability is crucial.
“It wasn’t that the lieutenant governor misgendered her initially. That can be a good faith mistake. It was the lieutenant governor’s failure to address it for two separate recesses. And it took several people asking her to apologize before she would admit that she made a mistake.
“Everyone’s allowed to make a mistake, but you have to be intentional about addressing it. That’s what an adult does.”
