Sarah McBride

EXCLUSIVE: After Sarah McBride won election in 2024 to represent Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives, she became the first openly transgender person to serve in Congress. How did some members of the Republican majority greet her? By deliberately misgendering her and, under orders from House Speaker Mike Johnson, banning McBride from using women’s restrooms in the Capitol and House Office Building.

If GOP leaders thought that would make McBride crumble, they were in for a surprise. The 35-year-old Democrat displays her mettle in the documentary State of Firsts, directed by Chase Joynt. The film opens theatrically on June 12 in Wilmington, DE, with New York, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Dallas, San Francisco and other cities to follow. Nationwide community screenings are planned following the theatrical release.

We have your first look at the film in the exclusive trailer above.

State of Firsts follows McBride’s campaign for Delaware’s single at-large seat in the House.

“On the night that Sarah wins, so too does Trump, underscoring a nation intensely divided and sending Sarah to an increasingly hostile new workplace,” notes a synopsis. “Immediately after her victory, Sarah becomes the target of MAGA Republicans who ban her from using the restrooms in the Capitol, sparking national outrage and drawing attention to the escalating threats on trans people and trans rights. She is sworn in with a swell of optimism and support from her family.”

The synopsis continues, “…On the day of her first [House] floor speech, Sarah is misgendered and chooses not to react, but the second time this happens, she snaps back and goes viral. The film leaves her on the doorstep of her new job, facing high-stakes decisions under the pressure of the national spotlight.”

In a statement, Rep. McBride said, “This is a candid exploration of my run for Congress and of proving that representation and effectiveness can go hand in hand. The only way to ensure that, while I may be the first, I’m not the last is to be the best member of Congress I can be — not taking the bait, keeping the focus on my constituents, and governing in a compassionate and collaborative way. I hope it gives people a deeper understanding not just of the history we made, but of the work and responsibility required to turn representation into meaningful results.”

The documentary is produced in association with XTR, Optimist, and Level Ground Productions. Producers are Jenna M. Kelly and Justin Lacob. Director Chase Joynt’s credits include The Nest (2025), directed with Julietta Singh; Framing Agnes (2022), and No Ordinary Man (2020).

“Sarah McBride faced enormous pressure as the target of politically-motivated hostilities and activist urgencies in her quest to become the first transgender member of congress,” Joynt said. “Our cameras had exclusive access to the volatility and vulnerability of this historic moment.”

Chris McNabb edited the film; cinematography is by Melissa Langer. Executive producers include Bill Harnisch, Ruth Ann Harnisch, Chase Joynt, Chris Panizzon, Zackary Drucker, Shannon Hunt Scott, David Steinglass, Patty Quillin, Bryn Mooser, Matthew Cherchio, Zach Ingrasci, and Chris Temple.

During a panel discussion at the recent Sonoma International Film Festival in Northern California, Joynt and Temple — founder of production company Optimist – shared their thoughts about the project and McBride.

“She really rose above the mudslinging and the politics that was being put right in her face every single day as people discussed her body openly online and in the halls of Congress,” Temple commented. “I walked away from the experience with just such a deep, deep respect for her humanity and it was the kind of film that we said, ‘Okay, how do we get this out in the world and make an impact?’ And that’s what we try to do with all of our films with Optimist.”

“As a trans filmmaker who’s been making films about trans life for a long time now,” Joynt said, “I have a set of rules for myself at this point in 2026, which is that I’m not interested in making films that explain what a trans person is, for example. I’m like, ‘Get on board, you’ll figure it out.’ And so, in State of Firsts, I avoid the questions of ‘What does being a trans person mean?’ or ‘What is the history of Sarah McBride’s childhood that brought her to an understanding of her identity?’ …Instead, jumping into the present and recognizing that absolutely you’re going to figure some things out about trans identity along the way, then we get to have a different set of conversations about trans life, which doesn’t keep us stuck in a model of like, ‘Wow, there’s a person I’ve never encountered’ and ‘What does that mean and where did they come from?’ All those things go away and instead we get to pay attention to the things that she’s saying.”

Watch the trailer for State of Firsts above.