Transgender Virginia state senator Danica Roem storms out of chamber after she was called SIR by state lieutenant Winsom Sears, who's up-and-coming GOP star

A transgender Virginia state senator stormed out of the chamber and she was referred to as 'sir' by a rising star lieutenant governor. 

Virginia based Democrat Danica A. Roem, 39, was seen marching out of the chamber moments after being misgendered by Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, 59.

The remark caused the legislature to go into recess twice, with footage since emerging of the exchange between the two. 

Senator Roem can be heard asking: 'Madame President how many votes would it take to pass this bill with the emergency clause.'

The Lieutenant Governor replies, 'Yes sir, that would be 32', causing Senator Roem to leave the chamber. 

Senator Roem had asked Earle-Sears about the necessary votes needed to pass a new bill during the exchange on Monday 

The remark caused the legislature to go into recess twice, with footage since emerging of the exchange between the two

According to The Sacramento Bee, Earle-Sears initially refused to apologize for the comment, but later made made an apology to the chamber. 

She said: 'I am not here to upset anyone, I am here to do the job that the people of Virginia have called me to do.

'That is to treat everyone with respect and dignity. I myself have at times not been afforded that same respect and dignity.

'In this body, as long as I am president of the senate, and by the grace of God, I will be treated with respect and dignity. And I will treat everyone else with respect and dignity.

'We are all equal under the law. I apologize, and I would hope everyone would understand there's no intent to offend.' 

CBS reported that following the remark, Roem returned home for the day and she has not commented publicly since the interaction. 

Roem was the first transgender member of the House of Delegates when she was first elected in 2017.

She unseated Republican Bob Marshall, a 13-term incumbent and socially conservative lawmaker who proudly called himself Virginia's 'chief homophobe'. 

Following the comment, Roem was seen leaving the chamber and reportedly went home for the day 

CBS reported that following the remark, Roem returned home for the day and she has not commented publicly since the interaction

Delgate Danica Roem poses for a portrait Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at the state Capitol in Richmond, Va

Roem was the first transgender member of the House of Delegates when she was first elected in 2017. Last year she became the first transgender senator for the state

In an interview during the campaign, Marshall called Roem 'a guy who thinks he’s a girl who wears a dress' before claiming that most people do not realize she is transgender, and see her instead as 'an odd-looking woman.' 

During her campaign, Roem hit back at comments from Marshall who also repeatedly referred to her as a he, and refused to debate her.

Roem said at the time: 'This is just who I am. There are millions of transgender people in this country, and we all deserve representation in government.'

Last year she went on to become the first transgender senator elected to Virginia's upper chamber and only the second elected to any state Senate. 

Sears, a US Marines veteran, was elected Lt. Governor in 2021, alongside the state's popular GOP Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Both are seen as rising stars within the Republican party - and potential candidates for a White House run.