Gail Heriot is a law professor at the University of San Diego. When George W. Bush stacked the US Commission on Civil Rights with conservative members in 2007, Professor Heriot was involved. Now calling herself an Independent, she was an alternate delegate to the Republican Convention in 2000.

Heriot testified before a House Judiciary Committee about federal regulations this past week.

Heriot testified that the guidance issued by the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights was an example of the executive branch overreaching what the legislative branch intended.

Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose, CA) took issue with a written statement submitted by Heriot.

Heriot described being transgender in her statement:

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.

I found this rather offensive. It tells me that the witness doesn't know anything and has never met a transgender child.

--Lofgren

Heriot asked to respond.

No. it's just my opinion.

--Lofgren

Chair of the meeting Steve King (R-Iowa) tried to cut Lofgren off.

--Lofgren

I think you're a bigot, lady! I think you're an ignorant bigot.

We allow witnesses to say offensive things, but I cannot allow that kind of bigotry to go into the record unchallenged.

--Lofgren

Does that mean you think I am a Russian princess?

-Heriot

I have no idea, lady