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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-CortezDN.Y., has come under fire on social media for a post celebrating Transgender Awareness Week.
Many of criticism were leveled by activists fighting to protect women's sports from biological transgender male athletes.
Figures worthy of note include former US gymnast and co-founder of XX-XY Athletics Jennifer Seay, and former University of Pennsylvania swimmer and conservative influencer Paula Scanlan.
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Ocasio-Cortez has faced enormous criticism for supporting trans athletes in women's and women's sports in 2024 and early 2025. Then in late October, the congresswoman sparked a viral feud with conservative activist Riley Gaines.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks during a rally in New York City on May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
In a series of X-posts, Ocasio-Cortez mocked Gaines, who just gave birth to her first child, with comments including: “I wish I could challenge this man to get a real job” and “Maybe if you had channeled all that anger into swimming faster, you wouldn't have finished in fifth place.”
In January, Ocasio-Cortez was mocked for a hysterical tirade in the House of Representatives over the defense Women and girls in sports Act. In a viral two-minute rant, she included both false and unsubstantiated claims. Her speech ended with the inexplicable statement that “leaders love this bill” because it relates to the California wildfires.
Ocasio-Cortez began her argument by citing Republicans' history of voting against the Violence Against Women Act, as well as a patently false statement regarding their position on abortion rights.
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Ocasio-Cortez was also one of many Democrats making unfounded claims that the bill would subject young girls to sexual predators.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks to the media outside the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. House office building on February 28, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Jemaal Countess/Getty Images for the Congressional Integrity Project)
“And why? To open gender and, yes, genital screenings for little girls in this country, under the so-called name of attacking trans girls!” Ocasio-Cortez continued.
Nowhere in the bill does it say that girls or women will be subject to genital examinations in order to participate in sports. However, Ocasio-Cortez, along with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democrats opposed to the legislation, have cited this possibility as their main argument against the legislation.
The argument drew backlash from voters of both parties, including prominent Rutgers law professor Gary Francione, a lifelong Democrat dating back to the 1970s. Francione previously told Fox News Digital that he deregistered from the party in response to Ocasio-Cortez's announcement and suggested other Democrats would follow suit.
“I can say with confidence from the people I know who are Democrats that I've talked to, the vast majority of them are very unhappy about all of this and feel like the party has lost its way,” Francione said. “I know a couple who said they were going [unregister]”
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Earlier in January New York Times/Ipsos poll found that a large majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, do not think transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in women's sports.
Of the 2,128 people who took part, 79% said biological men who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaned Democratic, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete against women.
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