Riley Gaines asks Lia Thomas whether her heart is broken seeing women miss out on opportunities after transgender swimmer called on Biden to allow trans athletes to compete in all sports
- Riley Gaines also called out Lia Thomas after the biological male’s video release
- Thomas implored President Biden to add further protections for trans women
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Riley Gaines has continued to probe at transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, this time in light of the biological male imploring President Joe Biden to let trans student-athletes compete in their chosen gender.
Since being attacked by radical trans activists while speaking at San Francisco State University, Gaines has continued to speak out against the Biden administrations attempts to alter Title IX – and those who support it. This month, they proposed a ruling which would forbid schools and colleges across the US from banning trans athletes from women’s sports.
Thomas, who competed on the men’s swimming team at the University of Pennsylvania, before transitioning and winning a national title in the women’s field, appeared in a video claiming Biden’s proposal didn’t offer enough protection for trans athletes.
In the 87-second clip, Thomas noted that Biden’s planned change allowed high schools the authority to ban trans athletes from competing on the proviso of competitive fairness — ultimately a distinct reality.
‘Lia Thomas [was] quoted saying, you know, “It breaks my heart to see trans kids lose out on opportunities.” Replace that with word woman — does it still break Thomas’s heart to see women lose out on opportunities?’ Gaines rhetorically asked on Piers Morgan Uncensored.
‘Because that’s exactly what’s happening. From my experience competing against Lia Thomas at the national championships, I watched first-hand women lose out on opportunities. I watched women not become All-Americans, missing that eighth and 16th place by one place because they were displaced by a male.
‘This, of course, goes against everything that Title IX was created to protect and now we have the Biden administration, the people in the White House, who are actively working to rewrite Title IX.’
Title IX, enacted as part of the Education Amendments of 1972 presently states: ‘No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.’
It was introduced as a means of protecting, and providing greater opportunity women in sports, among others. The likes of Billie Jean King — who now stand in opposition to Republican attempts to add protections via an amendment — lobbied heavily for it.
The bill first proposed by Republican congressman for Florida, Greg Steube, seeks to ensure genetic men compete against one another, and not against women – as has been the case with Thomas and others.
Gaines has naturally become a prominent topic of discussion given her strong views, and received praise from Morgan and Bill Maher amid criticism from Democrat Rep. Katie Porter Friday night on ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’.
California congresswoman Porter implied that Gaines had used the incident as a way to ‘get likes and clicks’ – an opinion Morgan was quick to dismiss.
‘When I watched this back, you just can’t help but laugh,’ Gaines told Morgan Tuesday.
Gaines (R) competed against biological man, now known as Lia Thomas, in NCAAW Swimming
‘Just like you mentioned, it’s ironic. It’s always women fighting against women’s sex-protected spaces and rights. It blows my mind, but I so appreciate both you and Bill standing up for myself because you hit the nail on the head.
‘I’m speaking for every female athlete, not just myself. I’m done competing. This isn’t about me. But I know what’s at stake if someone doesn’t use their voice. I have a younger sister. I just got married. I can only hope one day that I have a daughter and I can’t imagine being in this position and not fighting for them.
‘But also I’m fighting for the present female athletes — Lia Thomas’s teammates even, who have had their voices suppressed. They see what happens to me when I go to San Francisco State and they don’t want to put themselves in a position where speaking out would garner that for them.
‘So, it’s a lot bigger than just myself and to see Rep. Katie Porter even say that it just clearly shows she knows nothing about what I’ve been doing this past year. Nothing has been for personal advancement.
‘Nothing has been for monetary value for me. I was supposed to be in dental school this year. So, by no means did I even feel equipped to do what I’m doing. This is not about me, and hearing her say that showed her true ignorance.’
Before appearing on Morgan’s show, Gaines used Twitter to critique Thomas’s comments on Title IX, suggesting her stance was ‘selfish’ and displayed ‘an utter disregard for women.’
Last week, the former University of Kentucky swimmer labeled Megan Rapinoe a ‘faux feminist’ and implied both she and long-time women’s rights proponent Billie Jean King were hypocrites for their opposition to a ban on biological men in women’s sports.
Since graduating, Gaines has become an outspoken advocate for protecting women’s sports
Thomas competed for three years on the University of Pennsylvania men’s swim team before transitioning and competing for the women’s team for her remaining two years of eligibility
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