Top Virginia Republican apologizes for misgendering Democratic state senator

Lieutenant governor Winsome Earle-Sears misgendered Danica Roem, the first transgender person to serve in any state legislature

A top Republican in Virginia has apologized for misgendering a state senate Democrat in a row that caused legislative activity in the chamber to be temporarily suspended.

“We are all equal under the law. And so I apologize, I apologize, I apologize, and I would hope that everyone would understand there is no intent to offend but that we would also give each other the ability to forgive each other,” the lieutenant governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, said in an address to the state senate on Monday.