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Robert Garcia called Nancy Mace out in a House hearing.
The gay Democrat called her out as she looked on.
South Carolina Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace’s anti-trans rhetoric faced sharp scrutiny Wednesday during a House Subcommittee on Government Efficiency hearing that quickly shifted from its stated purpose to partisan attacks on transgender youth.
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The hearing, titled “Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” was chaired by far-right Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and featured testimony from athletes and USA Fencing officials. California Democrat Robert Garcia, the first out gay immigrant elected to Congress, used his time to challenge the hearing’s premise and highlight what he called its real agenda: targeting trans kids under the guise of government oversight.
“This has literally nothing to do with our committee’s jurisdiction,” Garcia said. “Apparently, this committee wants to bully trans kids and argue about fencing tournaments.” He pointed out that USA Fencing receives no taxpayer funding.
Related: Gay man Nancy Mace cursed out in South Carolina Ulta says ‘a fire was lit’ from Republican's ‘meltdown’
Garcia then focused on Mace, who was waived onto the subcommittee for the hearing (she doesn’t usually sit on the committee). While she remained silent, Garcia entered into the record two articles documenting her fixation on trans issues, including one noting she posted 326 times in 72 hours about transgender bathroom access. “That’s equal to hundreds of individual posts per athlete,” he said, citing NCAA data showing fewer than 10 trans athletes out of more than 500,000.
Garcia also read from a past quote attributed to Mace: “I strongly support LGBTQ rights and equality. No one should be discriminated against. I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ. Understanding how they feel and how they've been treated is important. Having been around gay, lesbian, and transgender people has informed my opinion over my lifetime.” Then he turned to a witness. “Ms. Goss Graves, do you know who said this? This was Congresswoman Nancy Mace,” he said. “That needs to be called out.”
Related: Gay Rep. Robert Garcia condemns GOP’s ‘shameful’ targeting of first trans member of Congress Sarah McBride
Mace has embraced attention for her anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. In April, she filmed and cursed at a constituent inside a Charleston Ulta store after he asked whether she would hold any more town halls. “F**k you!” she shouted at the gay man. She later posted the video to social media and invoked LGBTQ+ issues unprompted.
Mace has also falsely accused a foster care advocate who spoke up for transgender children of assault, mocked a young trans woman online, leading to death threats against her, and attempted to confront Delaware Democratic U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride in a Capitol restroom, mistakenly targeting a cisgender woman.
“We have a measles outbreak and an anti-vax Health Secretary,” Garcia added. “Let’s focus on the 930 adults and kids with measles versus the 10 NCAA trans athletes.”
He closed with a warning about the misuse of power in Congress.
“It is just so obvious that this issue is being exploited by extremists to try to divide Americans and demonize LGBTQ people. And it is shameful.”
