Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and advocate for fairness in women’s sports, testified before the Senate today regarding her concerns about transgender athlete Lia Thomas, Your Content has learned.
Gaines, who competed for the University of Kentucky and raced against Thomas at the NCAA level, shared her personal experiences and raised important questions about the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports.
During her testimony, Gaines discussed the discomfort she and others felt when having to change in the same locker room as Thomas, a transgender woman.
She emphasized that there was no consent or input sought from the athletes regarding this arrangement, highlighting it as a violation of their privacy rights.
Gaines expressed concern about the impact of this trend on women’s sports and questioned whether the well-being of cisgender women was being adequately considered by the governing bodies, such as the NCAA.
It is worth noting that Gaines clarified her position by stating that she is not advocating for a complete ban on trans athletes participating in sports.
Instead, she suggested the need for a separate classification for trans athletes, recognizing their unique circumstances while ensuring fairness for all competitors.
Responses from lawmakers varied along party lines, with Democrats pushing back on Gaines’ characterization, while Republicans largely supported her concerns.
Gaines has been actively involved in advocating for fairness in women’s sports since her college days, and she now travels the country to raise awareness on this issue.
However, her stance has drawn criticism from some who accuse her of transphobia, leading to occasional protests against her advocacy efforts, according to TMZ.