Bluegrass Times

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, Riley Gaines, a former Division I swimmer and star athlete at the University of Kentucky, blasted the Biden administration’s proposed amendments to Title IX that include transgender issues in schools and colleges.

Title IX is a federal civil rights law overseen by the U.S. Department of Education that was enacted in 1972 which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government. The department announced the proposed changes to Title IX in April. According to a Fox News report, the changes would ensure that no school or college that receives federal funding would be allowed to impose a "one-size-fits-all" policy that categorically bans transgender students from playing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. Such policies would be considered a violation of Title IX. 

Wednesday’s hearing, titled “Protecting Pride: Defending the Civil Rights of LGBTQ+ Americans,” included commentary from both sides of the debate, with Gaines, now a spokeswoman for the Independent Women’s Voice, offering an emotional testimony to the Senate hearing about how changes are already impacting athletes.

“Women’s rights to privacy and single-sex spaces and opportunities are being encroached upon — sports, sororities, locker and dorm rooms, shelters, and prisons,” Gaines said in her testimony.  “Some have tried to tar those of us speaking up for women’s safety, security, and opportunities as ‘transphobic’ or ‘bigoted.’ This is untrue. I’ve heard from gay, lesbian, and trans-identifying Americans that agree females should not be asked to step aside to make room for male-bodied individuals — no matter how they self identify.”

Gaines began speaking about transgender-related sports issues after University of Pennsylvania male swimmer Will "Lia" Thomas won the women's NCAA swimming championship in the 500 yard freestyle in March 2022. Gaines, who tied with Thomas in the 200 freestyle event at those NCAA championships, called Thomas a “cheat,” according to a report by NBC News.

“Lia Thomas is not a brave, courageous woman who EARNED a national title,” Gaines tweeted on March 26. “He is an arrogant, cheat who STOLE a national title from a hardworking, deserving woman. The NCAA is responsible.”