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What are 'transvexhikes'? Lauren Boebert invents transphobic slur while calling Equality Act 'supremacy of gays'

Boebert said, 'There is nothing about equality in that act! If anything, it’s supremacy—of gays, lesbians, and—uh'

While slamming the “so-called Equality Act" meant to extend protections for members of the LGBTQ+ community, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Co.) invented a slur for transgender people that did not exist in any English dictionary on Wednesday, March 3. 

Speaking on Steve Bannon’s show, Boebert said, “There is nothing about equality in that act! If anything, it’s supremacy—of gays, lesbians, and—uh" and then she paused before saying a slur for transgender people. The new never-before-heard term was "transvexhikes". It is possible that Boebert might have wanted to say 'transvestite' which according to Merriam Webster, refers to a person who wears clothes designed for the opposite sex. However, transvestites do not usually identify as transgender—most identify as straight men. 

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The clip of her interview went viral and she was slammed on Twitter and so was the transphobic term she invented which ultimately did not have a meaning. "The one I live with and love definitely vexes hikes," one user wrote, while another said, "Gonna be a good word to pull out in my next Scrabble game tho." A third commented, "That was some authentic frontier gibberish." The next remarked, "Her GED's money's worth." One more noted "Mini Me Palin Word Salad."

The next remarked, "Dropping out of high school to work at McD’s ain’t what it used to be." Another asked, "Good lord....How many 'ummm' & 'uhhh'?" One more reacted with, "Well, someone’s moving up on my Most Punchable List." A commenter tweeted, "'Suprimissy' is pretty underrated, too." Another said, "I’ve flushed smarter tampons." One more noted, "She's actually warning us about how they/them recruit us into acceptance: They/Them vex us with their excellent mountain walking skills." A person remarked, "It's really amazing to watch on mute."

What is the Equality Act?

On February 25, the House passed the Equality Act, bringing protections for the LGBTQ community one step closer to reality. The historic act was passed with a 224-206 majority, with three Republicans -- Reps. John Katko, Tom Reed, and Brian Fitzpatrick -- breaking ranks to vote for the bill. The act is an amendment to the Civil Rights Act, protecting people from discrimination based on sex and gender identity. 

The act amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act to explicitly prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender. According to the text of the bill, "Individuals who are LGBTQ, or are perceived to be LGBTQ, have been subjected to a history and pattern of persistent, widespread, and pervasive discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity. An explicit and comprehensive national solution is needed to address such discrimination, including the full range of remedies available under the Civil Rights Act of 1964."

The contentious act was first passed in 2019 by the House but killed by then-Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell. In the days following up to the vote in the House, the act saw a huge battle between Democrats and Republicans, highlighted by the war of words between Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Marie Newman. The battle highlights what many see as key flaws with the bill, with Republicans saying it infringes upon religious rights. Despite that, the bill has now passed the House and will be debated in the Senate in the coming days. It is one of the many bills that Biden backed as a priority on the campaign trail.