In a powerful statement, Payton McNabb, a former North Carolina high-school volleyball player who suffered long-term physical and mental injuries in a match against a transgender athlete, has called out Democrat lawmakers for denying the harm caused by trans women in sports. McNabb's brave confrontation took place in response to statements made by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wa., during a House Judiciary Committee markup.

During the markup, Rep. Jayapal tearfully claimed that transgender individuals were not causing any harm to others or their families and dismissed concerns raised by McNabb. However, McNabb vehemently disagreed, citing her own life-altering injuries as evidence.

McNabb, who is still recovering from the incident, expressed her disagreement on social media, stating, "Just getting back from my second doctor appointment this week, a year and a half later, I'm definitely going to have to disagree." She continued, emphasizing the impact of her injury, "My life is forever changed because of an injury by a boy. So yeah... men have harmed women in our sports. But as long as your feelings don't get hurt, right?"

Another Democrat lawmaker, Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., claimed during the markup that men do not compete in women's sports. However, the committee later passed H.R. 7187, the Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, which aims to ban biological men from competing on women's sports teams. McNabb called out Nadler's denial of reality, asserting, "Come on now, Jerry, you know that ain't true! Your statement is a slap in the face to every female athlete that has suffered from this insane issue."

The bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., received no support from Democrats on the committee. Steube commented, "Every Democrat on committee voted against it. Make no mistake: the Democrats don't care about protecting women - they care more about appeasing the radicals of their party and enabling the erasure of women's sports."

McNabb's traumatic experience occurred in September 2022 during a high-school volleyball game when she was struck by a transgender athlete's powerful spike, resulting in a concussion and a neck injury. She continues to suffer from impaired vision, partial paralysis, constant headaches, anxiety, and depression. McNabb faces challenges in her academic performance and requires accommodations for testing due to these limitations.

Riley Gaines, a former competitive swimmer, also voiced her support for fairness in girls' and women's sports after competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in college. Gaines backed McNabb's statement, calling out Democrats who deny the reality of these incidents as "evil."

The issue of transgender athletes competing in women's sports remains a controversial topic, but stories like McNabb's emphasize the importance of considering the impact on female athletes. As the debate continues, the hope is that lawmakers will find a suitable balance that ensures inclusivity without compromising women's rights and safety in sports.