Photo: Alamy
Activist and accomplished college swimmer Riley Gaines blasted the Biden administration’s newest attack on women’s sports this week by sharing a video of Lia Thomas, a biological male who identifies as a woman and competed during the NCAA women’s swimming championship.
In the video, Thomas discussed a rule change proposed by the Biden administration’s Department of Education that would provide a new “framework” for athletic participation among transgender athletes in school.
Via the Department of Education, the new rule “would establish that policies violate Title IX when they categorically ban transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity just because of who they are. The proposed rule also recognizes that in some instances, particularly in competitive high school and college athletic environments, some schools may adopt policies that limit transgender students’ participation.”
For reference, Title IX is a federal law that was passed in 1972 that ensured both male and female students and employees in the educational realm are treated equally, protecting against discrimination based on sex as well as sexual harassment, per the California Department of Education.
Thomas addressed the proposal: “The Department of Education has proposed a new rule for Title IX regarding transgender athletes; this rule would prohibit blanket bans on transgender kids, especially in grades K through 8. However, it would not prohibit discrimination against trans kids in the high school and college levels under the guise of competitive fairness.”
Gaines shot back with a comment on Twitter: “Under the guise of competitive fairness? Are you really trying to say you would have won a national title against the men? Does it not break your heart to see women lose out on these opportunities? The Biden Admins proposed bill denies science, truth, and common sense[.]”
In April, Gaines was attacked by a violent mob while speaking about protecting women’s sports from male incursion at San Francisco State University, as reported by RSBN. “I was ambushed and physically hit twice by a man,” she said. “This is proof that women need sex-protected spaces.”
She continued on Monday, “This take is selfish and shows an utter disregard for women. The Biden Administration is actively and aggressively working to pass laws that erase decent and fair treatment for women in sports.”
