Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) is taking aim at his female Republican colleagues over their support of a bill involving transgender athletes.
Swalwell shared a video of House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), flanked by several other female Republican lawmakers, speaking about the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act — which prohibits transgender athletes from competing on certain women’s sports teams.
He labeled them a six-letter word as he wrote, “These creeps want to invade our kids’ locker rooms.”
“I’m voting against it,” he added.
These creeps want to invade our kids’ locker rooms. I’m voting against it. https://t.co/dZ29mQ4nX3
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) April 20, 2023
Several Twitter users mocked the tweet.
Mike Hahn, the vice president of digital strategies for National Public Affairs, asked, “So you’re ok with men in girls’ locker rooms?”
So you're ok with men in girls' locker rooms?
— Mike Hahn (@mikehahn_) April 20, 2023
Another user, tweeted, “No they don’t. They want to keep creepy men like you out of girls and women’s spaces including locker rooms.”
No they don’t. They want to keep creepy men like you out of girls and women’s spaces including locker rooms.
— Savannah (@BasedSavannah) April 20, 2023
Another person wrote, “Swalwell thinks you are a ‘creep’ if you won’t let men in the locker room with your daughter.”
Swalwell thinks you are a “creep” if you won’t let men in the locker room with your daughter. ???♂️? https://t.co/2ikrl2EDsP
— Suaerp (@Preaus) April 20, 2023
The conservative organization America First Works wrote, “This sitting Congressman wants men in girls’ locker rooms but is labeling WOMEN who oppose that as the creeps. Stunning lack of self-awareness.”
This sitting Congressman wants men in girls' locker rooms but is labeling WOMEN who oppose that as the creeps.
— America First Works (@America1stWorks) April 20, 2023
Stunning lack of self-awareness. https://t.co/FyAfWKZiWD
Conservative radio host Jason Rantz chimed in, “Eric Swalwell wants biological men in women’s locker rooms and he calls anyone opposed a creep.”
Eric Swalwell wants biological men in women’s locker rooms and he calls anyone opposed a creep. https://t.co/jtS7tGJNbD
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) April 20, 2023
“Eric wants biological men to decimate women’s sports, and share locker rooms with girls. Who is the creep?” asked filmmaker Dean Cain.
Eric wants biological men to decimate women’s sports, and share locker rooms with girls.
— Dean Cain (@RealDeanCain) April 20, 2023
Who is the creep? @RepSwalwell https://t.co/gxZFRER7Yw
In a 219-203 vote on Thursday, the House passed the legislation.
It would prohibit transgender athletes from competing on sports teams that do not correspond to their biological sex in federally funded schools.
The Hill noted the bill would not “block transgender women and girls from training or practicing with female athletic programs ‘so long as no female is deprived of a roster spot on a team or sport, opportunity to participate in a practice or competition, scholarship, admission to an educational institution or other benefits.’”
It would also change Title IX, which is designed to prevent sex-based discrimination in education, to state that sex is “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”