Harley Hicks
Harley Hicks, a 20-year-old transgender USC student, was publicly directed anti-trans slurs by Rep. Nancy Mace at a campus event on April 21, 2025.
Last updated April 21, 2025
Harley Hicks is a first-year clarinet performance student at the University of South Carolina (USC) and a local drag performer. Hicks, who uses she/they pronouns, became the subject of national media coverage in April 2025 after a confrontation with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) at a campus speaking event.
What happened
February 2025 — Background. During a House Oversight Committee hearing, Mace used the word "tranny" — an anti-transgender slur — when questioning witnesses about a $2 million USAID grant to trans-led organizations in Guatemala. The remark drew immediate criticism from LGBTQ advocacy groups, with GLAAD calling the term "derogatory, defamatory, and dehumanizing."
April 21, 2025 — USC event and confrontation. USC's chapter of Turning Point USA hosted Mace for a speaking event on campus. After the formal program concluded, Hicks — who had attended the event as a member of the audience — approached Mace and asked for an apology for the February slur, stating: "I would like for you to apologize because it is derogatory."
Rather than apologize, Mace responded by directing the same slur at Hicks repeatedly and mockingly: "Is tr*nny really derogatory? Yeah, tr*nny. Tr*nny, tr*nny, tr*nny." The exchange was captured on video and posted by Mace to X (formerly Twitter), where it went viral.
As Hicks moved to leave the area, she was seen on video shifting a potted plant out of the way. Mace subsequently posted on X claiming her security team believed Hicks intended to throw the plant at her. Hicks disputed that characterization entirely, calling it "laughable" and telling the South Carolina Daily Gazette that attending the event as a transgender person was "one of the bravest things she had ever done."
April 22, 2025 — Hicks responds publicly. In statements to reporters and the SC Daily Gazette, Hicks described Mace's conduct as inappropriate for an elected official: "Me, I get to say it because I am a trans woman. I think it is offensive to use that word. She knows better. She is an elected official." Hicks also told the Carolina News and Reporter: "Well, yeah, of course it f**king is" — in direct response to Mace's mockery.
Columbia resident Kimberly Cockrell, who witnessed the exchange and offered comfort to Hicks afterward, described the incident to the Daily Gamecock as "disgusting," saying Mace "was yelling at a human being that she perceives to be something and calling them a slur."
Coverage of the incident appeared across national and international LGBTQ outlets, as well as South Carolina regional press. Mace did not issue an apology.
Sources
- SC Daily Gazette — Congresswoman Mace doubles down on offensive language to transgender USC student (April 22, 2025)
- Carolina News and Reporter — U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace ends USC event early after contentious Q&A (April 22, 2025)
- The Daily Gamecock — Nancy Mace event attracts chaos, sees barrage of questions from audience (April 22, 2025)
- PinkNews — Nancy Mace directs anti-trans slur at South Carolina Uni student (April 23, 2025)
- Out.com — Nancy Mace taunts transgender student with anti-trans slur during a USC event (April 22, 2025)
- The Advocate — Nancy Mace calls transgender student a transphobic slur at University of South Carolina event (April 2025)
See also
Neutral, sourced summary. Characterizations of Mace's language as a slur are attributed to GLAAD, the reporters covering the event, and Hicks herself. The plant-assault characterization is attributed solely to Mace; Hicks denied it. No court or ethics body has adjudicated the matter.