Swimmer Riley Gaines Rebuffs Bully Congresswoman Summer Lee in Hearing Over Transgender Sports

In a charged congressional hearing on Tuesday, proceedings took an unexpected turn when former collegiate swimmer-turned-activist Riley Gaines accused Representative Summer Lee of misogyny.

The clash erupted after Lee, a Pennsylvania Democrat and a prominent member of the progressive "Squad," dismissed Gaines' testimony as "transphobic" and called for its removal from the official record.

At the heart of the disagreement was the ongoing debate on transgender inclusion in sports, particularly in relation to the Biden administration's proposed changes to Title IX.

Lee, in her opening remarks, accused Gaines and other witnesses of holding "transphobic" views, while passionately advocating for the proposed rule changes that would allow transgender students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity.

Gaines, who gained recognition for her competition against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, took issue with Lee's characterization of her testimony. In a strong rebuttal, Gaines stressed the importance of fairness and safety in sports, advocating for the preservation of women's sports for biological females.

Riley Gaines’(right) experiences competing against transgender athlete Lia Thomas (left) has led her to a post-collegiate role of protecting women’s sports | Getty Images

"There's a place for everyone to play sports in this country," she declared, "but unsafe, unfair, and discriminatory practices towards women must stop."

The tension reached its peak when, mere seconds into the next witness's testimony, Lee interrupted, demanding that Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) strike Gaines' remark from the record.

After a brief but intense discussion, Lee withdrew her point of order, and the hearing resumed. The focus returned to the proposed Title IX rule changes, highlighting the complex and divisive nature of the ongoing discussions surrounding transgender inclusion in sports.