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Congresswoman to Anti-Trans Professor: 'You're a Bigot' (Video)

Congresswoman to Anti-Trans Professor: 'You're a Bigot' (Video)

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren

U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren confronted a witness who compared being transgender to thinking one is a Russian princess.

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U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren showed zero tolerance for transphobia or trans erasure when confronting a witness at a House Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday.

The witness, University of San Diego law professor Gail Heriot, appeared at a hearing on alleged government overreach, particularly concerning the Obama administration's guidance on how schools should treat transgender students. She had also submitted written testimony essentially denying the existence of transgender people, and California Democrat Lofgren read from it:

"If I believe that I am a Russian princess, that doesn't make me a Russian princess, even if my friends and acquaintances are willing to indulge my fantasy. Nor am I a Great Horned Owl just because -- as I have been told -- I happen to share some personality traits with those feathered creatures."

Then Lofgren commented, "I've got to say, I found this rather offensive. And it says to me that the witness really doesn't know anything and probably has never met a transgender child who is going through, in almost every case, a very difficult experience finding themselves."

When Heriot tried to defend her testimony and criticized the administration's guidance, Lofgren put in, "I think you're a bigot, lady. I think you are an ignorant bigot."

Committee chairman Steve King, an anti-LGBT Republican, told Lofgren she was out of order, but she still got another comment in. Watch the video below, posted to YouTube by Lofgren's office, to see the zinger that ended the conversation.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.