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

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.