Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., faced a wave of online backlash after an impassioned speech on the House floor Tuesday.
During her two-minute tirade, Ocasio-Cortez railed against The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. She made unsubstantiated claims and bizarrely linked the bill to "CEOs loving this" and the California wildfires.
The bill passed with unanimous Republican support and just two Democratic votes. Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez and 205 Democrats voted against it.
She began by accusing Republicans of hypocrisy. "Republicans who have voted consistently against the violence against women act, who have taken away the right of all women to choose… now want to pretend today that they care about women!" she declared.
Abortion laws remain under state jurisdiction in many areas. Yet, Ocasio-Cortez’s fiery rhetoric ignored that nuance.
She further claimed the bill would lead to invasive actions against young girls. "And why? To open up gender, and yes, genital examinations into little girls of this country!" she alleged.
Nowhere in the bill is such a procedure mentioned. However, Ocasio-Cortez and others opposing it cite that fear as a primary objection.
Ocasio-Cortez argued, "When there is no enforcement mechanism, you open the door to every enforcement mechanism!" She painted a grim picture of what she believes the bill could lead to.
The legislation defines sex based on biology and genetics at birth. Its intent is to prevent male participation in women’s sports under federally funded programs.
Still, Ocasio-Cortez defended her stance passionately. "Trans girls are girls!" she insisted, reiterating her support for trans inclusion in women’s sports.
Her speech veered into chaotic territory. "I don’t know about y’all. I don’t know who’s been to gym class lately, but girls… I’ve played co-ed sports all the time!" she said, struggling to make a coherent argument.
She also warned the bill might enforce rigid gender norms. "What this opens the door for is… questioning of who is a woman because of how we look, how we present ourselves," she claimed.
The bill itself makes no mention of dress codes or personal presentation. Yet, Ocasio-Cortez linked it to broader societal scrutiny of women’s behavior.
Her final remarks turned to corporate interests and natural disasters. "Bigoted folks love this bill. Assaulters love this bill. CEOs love this bill… because Los Angeles is on fire right now," she concluded.
Critics on social media slammed her speech, calling it incoherent and exaggerated.
Ocasio-Cortez has long championed trans inclusion. In 2023, she pushed for a Transgender Bill of Rights, underscoring her unwavering stance on this divisive issue.
As Republicans lead efforts to restrict trans participation in women’s sports, Ocasio-Cortez’s fiery opposition remains a lightning rod for controversy.