Riley Gaines received national attention after a dramatic hearing before the House Oversight Committee on Health Care and Financial Services. The hearing discussed the importance of protecting female athletics and Title IX and Riley was testifying against biological males who identify as females participating in women’s sports.
Ranking member of the subcommittee, Democratic Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, kicked off the hearing with, “Although the title of this hearing implies a much-needed discussion, we’re likely going to be forced to listen to transphobic bigotry.”
Riley Gaines took the stand and said, “Unsafe, unfair, and discriminatory practices towards women must stop. Inclusion cannot be prioritized over safety and fairness.” She then addressed Lee directly, “If my testimony makes me transphobic, then I believe your opening statement makes you a misogynist.”
Lee immediately yelled that Gaines’ words should be taken out of the record, raising a point of order that her statements were engaging in personalities. Subcommittee Chairwoman GOP Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan attempted to intervene and asked, “Could I just ask how it’s fair to be called transphobic?” After some deliberation, Lee withdrew the point of order.
WATCH: Rep. Lee interrupts @SarahPPerry in an attempt to strike part of @Riley_Gaines_ testimony.
“…we’re likely going to be forced to listen to transphobic bigotry.”
“…if my testimony makes me transphobic, then I believe your opening monologue makes you a misogynist.” pic.twitter.com/UwCUHAvPCa
— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) December 5, 2023
Riley made news during the 2022 NCAA Swim Championships when she tied with a transgender athlete for fifth place. Instead of awarding a top-six trophy, the honors were given to the transgender athlete, and Riley was asked to stand on the winner’s dais and pose with a sixth place trophy.
The Biden administration submitted a rule change to Title IX in April stating that schools should not ban transgender students from participating in athletics or sports according to their gender identity. The notice also indicated that schools must take into consideration the level of competition, sport, and education level when developing team eligibility criteria.
WATCH
.@Riley_Gaines_ testifies before Congress: "A school that knowingly allows a male athlete to take a spot on a women's team or allows a male athlete to take the field in a women's game is denying a female student athletic opportunity, and that is sex-based discrimination and it… pic.twitter.com/RiuPyfU8Tc
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) December 5, 2023
It was clear at the hearing that Gaines felt strongly that safety and fairness should be prioritized over lining out participation rules for transgender athletes. While the Biden administration has proposed these changes, it’s yet unclear who will prevail. What is clear, however, is that this issue is a heated topic among Americans and will likely remain a focal point in the debate for a while.