Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Delaware, the first openly transgender member of Congress, said she remains focused on her job and refused to meet Republican demands she said were meant to get her to accept A policy "bait". She was banned from entering the House women's restroom.

Louisiana Republican Speaker Mike Johnson informally enacted the policy in November and updated it earlier this month as Congress began a new session. The policy was originally proposed in November by Republican Sen. Nancy Mace, who said it was a direct response to McBride's election.

McBride said in a statement at the time that she would respect the policy and not let it distract her from her duty: serving her constituents. Some trans people criticized McBride's response, saying she should have done more to boycott or protest, especially now that the incoming administration and congressional Republicans have made targeting trans people a priority. Some said she didn't stand up for herself, and therefore, she didn't stand up for trans people.

In an interview with NBC News on Wednesday, McBride said she understands why some people feel that way but that the bathroom policy doesn't actually ban people from Capitol bathrooms.

"The purpose of this toilet ban is to lure me into a fight and undermine my ability to be an effective member of Parliament by turning me into a caricature," she said. "I refuse to give them that opportunity or the response they seek. That's what they want. There's power in not giving people what they want."

She said that throughout history, people who have achieved "firsts" - such as her becoming the first openly transgender member of Congress - have been asked to "pick their battles" and fight them smarter, not always It’s about working harder. In this case, she argued that civil disobedience does not mean disobeying policy and "asking for the toilet seat."

“The civil disobedience that’s happening here is fighting for a congressional seat on a body that some people don’t want me in, just because of who I am,” she said. “Disobedience is about taking that seat, and the civil part is about holding your head high. Accept the indignity that comes with it.”

McBride said her "turning the other cheek" may not be comforting at the moment, especially for transgender people who are worried about the policies of the incoming Trump administration and want to see McBride fight back. explain.

However, she said, "At the beginning of my career, showing Republicans that they could bait me into getting the response they wanted would not do the transgender community any favors."

Despite this policy and Republicans' focus on restricting transgender rights, McBride said her colleagues, regardless of party affiliation, were warmly welcoming and greeted her in the hallways. When asked if she had any conversations or interactions with Mays, McBride laughed and responded: "Who?"

She said it was important to note that Mace's resolution was not included in the formal House rules package and that her focus going forward was to do her job and work with "anyone who is willing to do the job seriously — Democrats." or Republicans — work together and serve my constituents and their constituents.”

“In doing so, I hope to continue to build relationships with those serious members of Congress so that we can address all of the issues, and hopefully in the process of addressing them, people can start to see members of the LGBTQ community who they may not have previously considered. Knowing that they are indeed real people, that they are real people, that they are very good legislators, that they are real people, they themselves deserve to be able to participate fully and equally in public life," McBride said.

In that spirit, McBride became the first freshman Democrat to introduce a bill in his first week in Congress. She co-sponsored the bipartisan End Scam Credit Repair Act with Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., to protect consumers from deceptive credit repair organizations that charge exorbitant fees and make false promises. Help people improve their credit scores.

"We are closing loopholes in federal law that allow people to be exploited by these entities that currently do violate the spirit of federal law, but because of these loopholes they are able to prey on hardworking people with empty and expensive promises," McBride said.

McBride is a self-described history and politics nerd, and despite her busy days, she said she is "in awe" every day she enters the Capitol.

"You're in a chamber where they passed the 13th and 14th Amendments, women had the right to vote, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid were created, the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act were passed," she said . "You feel the history in the air and the responsibility and seriousness of the job on your shoulders, and I think when you don't feel that anymore, if you don't feel that anymore, it's time to look for a different job." .

McBride said she returns to Delaware when possible, usually only spending the night in Washington, D.C., when voting is late. Due to her frequent travels, she developed the habit of eating late night snacks, which attracted considerable attention.

In a recent interview with The Washington Post, McBride revealed that the meal, which included cheese nachos, five tacos and was ordered at a Taco Bell and KFC restaurant in Wilmington, Delaware , eight chicken fillets and three chicken drumsticks.

When asked about the order and whether she would go to a fast-food chain in turn, McBride responded: "That's the beauty of it; that's the charm of it." It's Taco Bell and KFC rolled into one For one. "KFC is not my favorite fried chicken," she added. Taco Bell isn't even Tex-Mex—it's its own thing. But you give me a place where I can get both of those things in one drive-in—and it's often open until midnight, and I work late—I've got to make the most of it. "

However, after getting "a lot of feedback" from people concerned about her health about her order, McBride made an important clarification to NBC News and her social media followers: "I don't eat that every night meal.”