Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) took center stage in the House chamber to rail against the GOP-backed Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025.
She accused Republicans of hypocrisy and using women’s rights as a smokescreen to push what she called a “bigoted” agenda targeting transgender girls.
“Here we are today, Republicans who have voted against consistently against the Violence Against Women Act, who have taken away the right of all women to choose and have control over their own body, who, as women, are bleeding out in parking lots across the country, standing there allowing us to die. Now want to pretend today that they care about women,” Ocasio-Cortez said, highlighting what she views as glaring contradictions in Republican priorities.
The bill, which seeks to ban transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports, has sparked fierce debate.
Ocasio-Cortez warned that its vague wording could pave the way for harmful enforcement practices. “The majority right now says there’s no place in this bill that says it opens up for gender genital examinations. Well, here’s the thing, there’s no enforcement mechanism in this bill, and when there is no enforcement mechanism, you open the door to every enforcement mechanism.”
Ocasio-Cortez argued that such legislation could lead to invasive scrutiny of young girls based on their appearance or behavior.
“What this also opens the door for is for women to try to perform a very specific kind of femininity, for the very kind of men who are drafting this bill, and to open up questioning of who is a woman because of how we look, how we present ourselves, and yes, what we choose to do with our bodies,” she said.
Her critique didn’t stop there. The congresswoman took aim at the bill’s backers, accusing them of having ulterior motives.
“I know who loves this bill. Yes, bigoted folks love this bill. Assaulters love this bill. But also CEOs love this bill, because Los Angeles is on fire right now, and this is the number one priority this majority has.”
Ocasio-Cortez also expressed frustration with what she sees as misplaced focus in Congress, urging lawmakers to address pressing issues like climate change.
“Los Angeles is on fire right now, and this is the number one priority this majority has,” she repeated, underscoring her belief that the bill distracts from more critical problems.
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act remains a lightning rod for controversy.
Supporters argue it ensures fairness in women’s sports, while critics, like Ocasio-Cortez, claim it promotes discrimination and infringes on personal autonomy.
With the debate heating up, Ocasio-Cortez’s impassioned speech has further polarized the discussion.
