'State of Firsts' documentary explores Sarah McBride's historic first months in Congress

“State of Firsts,” a documentary about Sarah McBride’s election as the first openly transgender member of Congress, will be premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.

When Rep. Sarah McBride, the nation’s first openly transgender member of Congress, said in November that she would comply with a policy from House Republicans that banned her from using public women’s restrooms in the House, many in the transgender community were disappointed — and some even furious.

Some people expected McBride, as the only trans member of Congress, to fight more, especially given efforts by state Republicans and the Trump administration to roll back trans rights.

Sarah McBride at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington.Melissa Langer / 'State of Firsts'In “State of Firsts,” a documentary about McBride’s election that will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on Saturday, McBride says the criticism from some in her own community hurt but that she felt she would be giving in to Republicans by responding in a way that made her less effective at her job.

“I also think people misunderstand the difference between activists and elected officials and the roles that those respective jobs play in social change and social movement,” she says. “Even if you disagree with that, there would be a bounty on my head if I said that I would not comply.”

Sarah McBride and her mother in Wilmington as election night results come in.Melissa Langer / 'State of Firsts'The documentary explores the unique pressures McBride faced entering Congress. It provides some of the first glimpses at how the bathroom resolution and the criticism from her own community has affected her, and it addresses questions about the limits and challenges of representation and of being a historic “first” in federal office.