Riley Gaines Responds (Again) to NCAA’s Transgender Foolishness

Written by David E. Smith

Former competitive swimmer turned political activist Riley Gaines has gained significant public attention for her outspoken advocacy for common sense in women’s sports. Specifically, she became an activist for preserving women’s sports for biological females only. She argues that allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports can lead to unfair advantages due to physical differences that persist even after hormone therapy.

But even more troubling, and a focal point of her concerns, is the issue of privacy and safety. Recounting an incident where she and other female swimmers were forced to share locker rooms with Lia Thomas, a biological male pretending to be a woman, without prior warning or consent. She describes the experience of turning around to see a “6’4″ biological man dropping his pants” as deeply uncomfortable and a violation of privacy.

Gaines has also addressed the psychological impact on female athletes, mentioning that some felt so uncomfortable that they considered counseling or were told to seek counseling for their feelings of discomfort. She has shared stories from other athletes, including one who had nightmares after sharing a locker room with Thomas, underscoring the emotional toll this situation can take.

She recently appeared on Sean Hannity’s show to discuss her ongoing advocacy for women’s sports and her response to NCAA President Charlie Baker‘s handling of transgender athlete policies.

Make no mistake, transgender ideology is Satan’s work of open rebellion against God’s creation of male and female. It is the rejection of science and nature (also created by God). Transgender activists and their “progressive” allies want us to believe that a person’s inordinate desire to be the opposite sex is somehow good and to be celebrated, while God’s desire in creating that person male or female is not good, or worse, somehow a mistake.

This is a lie.

Lies always lead to bad outcomes. Just to name a few: Transgender activists and their “progressive” allies are willing to ignore and sacrifice the privacy, dignity and safety of others to achieve their goal, which is to eradicate all public recognition of sex differences. This means no more male and female bathrooms, dressing rooms, locker rooms, dorm rooms, prison cells, or athletic associations.

Gaines has rightly criticized Charlie Baker for the NCAA’s lack of action and accountability regarding these policies. Here are some key points from her responses:

• Lack of Response: Gaines has expressed frustration over the lack of response to her letters and requests for meetings with Baker. She wrote a letter to Baker in January 2023, detailing her experiences at the 2022 NCAA championships and the issues with transgender inclusion in women’s sports, but she has not received a reply or acknowledgment, even after follow-up attempts.

• U.S. Senate Testimony Critique: Following Baker’s testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Gaines described his remarks as “entirely disingenuous” and accused him of deflecting responsibility by saying he wasn’t president during the 2022 incidents involving transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. She highlighted that current policies are still in place and continue to discriminate against female athletes.

• Public Statements: Gaines has publicly labeled the NCAA’s approach under Baker as “cowardly,” criticizing the organization for not engaging with female athletes who are affected by these policies. She has also accused Baker of avoiding direct confrontation with the issue by not meeting with her or other affected female athletes.

• Protests and Advocacy: She has taken her advocacy to public platforms, including protests at NCAA events and meetings with lawmakers, where she has called for the NCAA to change its policies and has criticized Baker for not acting more decisively to protect women’s sports.

Writing for the Independent Women’s Forum last year, Riley Gaines pointed out:

When NCAA member schools put male bodies on women’s podiums, they publicly humiliate female athletes by asking them to measure their physical attributes and athletic accomplishments against male standards. When they give trophies to male athletes who have suppressed their naturally occurring testosterone in order to compete as women, they tell female athletes that they do not measure up to even a hormonally-impaired male body.

When they allow male bodies to compete on women’s teams at all, they send a very clear message that the “inclusion” of males is more important than equal opportunity for females. And they send a message that whenever playing time or roster spots are limited, female athletes must step aside to placate the feelings of a biological male. These messages are regressive, and they are misogynistic. My sincere hope is that, as a father of a former female athlete, Charlie Baker will come to understand that inclusion should not and cannot be achieved on the backs of women.

Despite the growing opposition, Charlie Baker and the NCAA is clinging to woke ideology.

The Left’s relentless attacks on God’s created order requires courageous, bold, and steadfast opposition from Christians who claim to know the Author of Truth (John 14:6). If we love God and love our neighbors as ourselves as the second great command requires (Matthew 22:36-40), we cannot allow these lies to go unchallenged.

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