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By Benjamin Lynch
US Politics and National Affairs Reporter
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A transgender state senator stormed out of the chamber after she was incorrectly referred to as "sir" by the lieutenant governor.
The Virginia Senator Danica Roem was seen walking out of the chamber following the comment by Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a Republican.
Earle-Sears initially refused to apologize, but later made an apology to the chamber.
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"It is never my intention to make anyone offended," Earle-Sears said after a recess following the incident. "I hope that others would consider that they would try not to offend me as well, we are all equal under the law.
"I'm not here to upset anyone. I am here to do the job the people of Virginia have called me to do, and that is to treat everyone with respect and dignity."
Addressing separate parts of the chamber, she added: "I apologize, I apologize, I apologize."
The incident occurred during a debate on House Bill 592, related to "emergency regulations related to prescription drug price transparency." The bill passed the Virginia Senate with bipartisan support on February 26.
In footage, Roem rose to ask the Earle-Sears how many votes for the bill would be required for the it to pass with an emergency clause.
"That would be four fifths, Senator," Earle Sears responded, before she was asked by Roem what the exact number would be. The lieutenant governor added: "Yes sir, that would be 32."
Democrat Senator Scott Surovell then asked for a recess, which was granted by Earle Sears.
CBS reported that Roem had returned home for the day, but she has not commented publicly since Earle-Sears' comment.
Roem is the first transgender member of both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate.
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She won her first term in the House in 2017 after she defeated the incumbent since 1992, Republican Bob Marshall. Roem then went on to successfully stand for the State Senate in 2023.
During her 2017 campaign, Roem hit back at comments from Marshall after he repeatedly referred to his Democratic opponent as "he" and refused to debate her.
"This is just who I am," Roem said in an advert, according to the Washington Post. "There are millions of transgender people in the country, and we all deserve representation in government."
Newsweek has approached Roem and Earle-Sears' respective offices for comment outside of working hours.
This is a breaking story. More to follow.
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