Batavia Public School District 101 is facing backlash after highlighting U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), a transgender member of Congress from Delaware, in a Women’s History Month post that critics say was inappropriate for the observance.
The post, which was later removed, drew 697 comments, many negative, after it was shared online by the social media account Libs of TikTok.
“Wow. Batavia Public School District 101 (@BPS101) in Illinois made a post honoring Rep. Tim McBride, a man pretending to be a woman, for Women’s History Month. I have no words… Parents, beware of this school!” Libs of TikTok said on X.
Batavia Public School District 101 serves around 5,200 students across eight schools, including an early childhood center, six elementary schools, a middle school and a high school.
The district’s original post highlighted McBride’s background and political career noting McBride is “the first openly transgender person elected to the United States Senate.”
However, Batavia 101 incorrectly identified McBride as a senator. McBride instead serves in the U.S. House of Representatives and was previously a state senator.
“McBride was instrumental in lobbying the Delaware state legislature in 2013 to pass a law that prohibited discrimination based on gender identity,” Batavia 101’s Post read. “McBride went on to work as national press secretary for Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. Today, she continues to fight for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as writing several books!”
Batavia Public School District 101’s Women’s History Month post on Facebook featuring Rep. Sarah McBride, a transgender congresswoman, sparked hundreds of negative comments. (X / LibsofTikTok)
The since-removed Facebook post quickly drew nearly hundreds of comments from users criticizing the district’s decision to feature McBride, a biological male, as an example of a woman making history.
Among them, Deb Doyle wrote, “If you didn’t think school board elections were important, this may change your mind.”
Jay Middleton commented, “Honor actual women, they deserve the recognition. Not a man in drag.”
Jeremy Kwitschau wrote, “Sarah’s name was Tim at birth. Let’s honor the accomplishments and sacrifices of women this month, after all it is Women’s History Month.”
Bill H-huff added, “We really don’t need any more reasons to support homeschooling, but appreciate the info!”
Batavia 101 alum Amy Erkenswick wrote a lengthy comment on the district’s choice to feature McBride.
“This is a man who is co-opting womanhood and promoting a falsehood that the entitled and privileged position of purchasing the commodities of cultural norms (feminine clothing, hairstyles, breasts, heigh heels, facial feminization, etc determines a person’s reproductive development or can make them something they are not. This is a person who will always prioritize themself, their feelings, and their comfort over that of actual marginalized and vulnerable groups (women and children),” Erkenswick wrote. “Men are men and there are no special categories of men that should be permitted to override the consent of women and children or compromise the safety of our private and sex-specific spaces.”
“It’s definitively anti-feminist and entirely misogynistic to choose to elevate and celebrate a man in place of women during Women’s History Month. As a BPS alum, 1 am so very very deeply disappointed and everyone should worry for the safety…”
Aurora Township GOP chair Danny Souri added, “She’s a dude.”
Alex Frederico simply commented, “*he” as a correction to the post.
Kelly Van De Mark said, “I can learn about this politician via another platform. What does this specifically have to do with Batavia Public schools, and why did the district page choose to post it?”
Dave Magiera wrote, “What is this? Is the school district promoting political candidates in different states?”
Kristina McCloy, the founder of Concerned Parents of Illinois wrote, “Attention D101 Parents: Your high school is publicly promoting mental illness to students. Parents should be very concerned and vigilant about what is happening behind closed doors at that school.”
The controversy comes amid broader national debate over transgender issues in politics and public institutions.
The U.S. House leadership has taken a stance in line with an executive order from President Donald Trump noting that, “efforts to eradicate the biological reality of sex fundamentally attack women by depriving them of their dignity, safety, and well-being,” and that federal policy should recognize that “women are biologically female, and men are biologically male.”
In 2025, during a House floor session, U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) referred to McBride as “the gentleman from Delaware, Mr. McBride” while recognizing McBride to speak.
McBride proceeded to speak without addressing the remark and criticized the Trump administration.
Miller, who since 2021 has represented the 15th Congressional District situated in central Illinois, later defended her wording on social media, saying she refused to “deny biological reality” and supported what she described as restoring “biological truth” in government.
A confrontation occurred in early 2025 during a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing chaired by Keith Self, when Self introduced McBride as “Mr. McBride.” The exchange escalated when the committee’s ranking U.S. Rep. Bill Keating (D-Mass.), asked Self to repeat the introduction and address McBride as woman. Self refused and again referred to McBride as “Mr. McBride,” saying he was following House standards. Keating strongly objected, calling the conduct out of order and challenged Self’s decency. The dispute disrupted the proceedings, and Self ultimately adjourned the hearing rather than change his wording.
Debate over transgender policies at the Capitol also emerged before McBride was sworn into office.
In 2024, Nancy Mace introduced a resolution seeking to ban transgender women from using female bathrooms in the U.S. Capitol and House office buildings, arguing that restrooms should correspond to individuals’ biological sex.
