Federal prosecutors have dropped charges against local trans youth activist James McIntyre, who was accused of violently shaking the hand of Republican South Carolina U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace in D.C., per The Chicago Sun-Times.
Last December, McIntyre pled not guilty to a charge of misdemeanor assault of a government official after confronting the anti-trans politician near the U.S. Capitol. The activist supposedly shook the politician’s hand in an “exaggerated, aggressive” manner while telling her “trans youth deserve advocacy.”
Mace had proposed a ban on transgender individuals from using restrooms associated with their gender identity. The measure was aimed at U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Delaware—the first openly trans Congressmember.
McIntyre—who co-founded the Illinois chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America—said in a statement that he was “pleased but not surprised” the charges were dropped, adding that the case was meant “to criminalize anyone who advocates for the needs of our trans youth.” On X, Mace has continued her anti-trans rhetoric, posting on March 31 that it’s “hard not to notice ‘Tr*ns Day of Visibility’ when they’re shoving it down the throats of real women. Hold the line.”
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