Hyungwon Kang/Reuters
Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren got into an especially heated exchange with a University of San Diego law professor this week during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on federal regulations involving transgender access to public facilities. In her written statement, professor Gail Heriot submitted that "We are teaching young people a terrible lesson. If I believe that I am a Russian princess, that doesn’t make me a Russian princess, even if my friends and acquaintances are willing to indulge my fantasy." In response, the California-based lawmaker said, "I found this rather offensive," and suggested Heriot has never met a transgender child. When the witness asked to respond on her own behalf, Lofgren shot back, calling Heriot an "ignorant bigot."