Politics
WATCH: MTG Makes Democrat Congresswoman Melt Down During Chaotic Hearing: ‘Stop It!’
Tensions erupted Wednesday during a congressional hearing on biological men competing in women’s sports, as Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) had a loud and emotional outburst defending the transgender community—while Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tried to gavel the session back into order.
The hearing, hosted by the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE), was led by Greene and titled “Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” It focused on protecting female athletes from competing against transgender-identifying biological males, which Republicans argue violates Title IX protections and creates unsafe conditions for girls and women.
But the focus quickly shifted when Rep. Stansbury exploded during the proceedings, shouting over colleagues and slamming her support for transgender rights into the record in defiant fashion.
“To the trans community, we stand with you!” Stansbury yelled. “We stand with the LGBTQ+ community, and you can break my eardrums all you want, Madam Chair, but we stand with the LGBTQ+ community!”
As Greene attempted to restore order, repeatedly calling, “This hearing will come to order,” Stansbury doubled down, refusing to yield and prompting audible chaos in the room. “You can gavel me to order,” she snapped.
WATCH:
The hearing was briefly thrown into disorder as Greene continued banging the gavel and eventually moved on to recognize Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI), brushing past the Democratic congresswoman’s interruption.
The exchange followed Greene’s fiery opening remarks, where she laid out the rationale for the hearing and explained the stakes. “Female athletes should never be forced to compete against mentally ill, biological men who parade around in women’s clothes,” Greene said.
She detailed the experiences of two female athletes scheduled to testify—one who was injured during a volleyball match against a trans-identifying male, and another who was disqualified from fencing for refusing to compete against a biological male.
“Why is this happening when we have federal laws on the books intended to foster women’s sports?” Greene asked.
She went on to cite Title IX and the legal responsibilities of National Governing Bodies (NGBs), such as USA Fencing, to “provide equitable support and encouragement for participation by women where separate programs for male and female athletes are conducted on a national basis.”
Yet, Greene said, “USA Fencing makes a mockery out of women’s fencing by allowing biological males to compete in its women’s fencing competitions. We understand there are roughly two-hundred biological males competing in the USA Fencing women’s division. This includes males who have won national titles and represented the U.S. in international competition—in women’s fencing.”
USA Fencing Board Chair Damian Lehfeldt was subpoenaed to appear, with Greene blasting the organization’s refusal to adjust its transgender policies unless legally compelled.
“Sound science shows that men have numerous physical advantages over women that create unfair and potentially dangerous competitions,” Greene continued. She cited Olympic coach Andrey Geva, who wrote that “transgender women fencers have significant advantages in women’s competitions,” including “body size, reach, shoulder width, muscle development, explosive strength and recovery capacity.”
Greene also pointed to a 2024 United Nations report: “To avoid the loss of a fair opportunity,” it concluded, “males must not compete in the female categories of sport.”
The most jarring example, Greene argued, was USA Fencing’s vote against playing the national anthem at its own events.
“This is why I look forward to fighting and winning the battle to keep men out of women’s sports, alongside President Trump and brave women like Stephanie and Payton,” Greene concluded.
