Riley Gaines gives emotional opening statement at LGBTQ hearing

good morning Senators my name is Riley Gaines I'm an advisor for independent woman's voice I recently graduated from the University of Kentucky where I was a member of the UK's women's swim and dive team I proudly finished my career as a 12-time NCAA All-American a five-time sec Champion the SEC record holder and the 200 butterfly making me one of the fastest Americans of all time a two-time Olympic trial qualifier SEC scholar athlete of the year and SEC community service leader of the year but all that to say that it's a lifelong journey competing at that level and it's impossible to put into words the amount of sacrifice and dedication that it takes on March 17th of 2022 my teammates and I as well as female swimmers from universities around the country were forced to compete against biological male Leah Thomas was allowed to compete in the women's division after competing as a member of the University of Pennsylvania's men's swim team for three years as will Thomas we watched on the side of the pool as Thomas swam to a national title in the 500 freestyle beating out the most impressive and accomplished female swimmers in the country including many Olympians and American record holders by Body links previously Thomas had been ranked 462nd at best in the men's division the year prior the next day I raced Thomas in the 200 freestyle which ended up in a tie we went the exact same time down to the hundredth of a second having only one trophy the NCAA handed it to Thomas and told me I had to go home empty-handed and when I asked why which was a question they were not prepared to be asked I actually appreciate their honesty because they said Thomas it was crucial Thomas had it for picture purposes Thomas had to have it for the pictures I felt betrayed I felt belittled I felt reduced to a photo op but my feelings didn't matter What mattered to the NCAA were the feelings of a biological male in 1972 Congress enacted Title IX to end unjust sex discrimination in all aspects of Education including College athletics but by allowing Thomas to displace female athletes in the pool and on the podium the NCAA intentionally and explicitly discriminated on the basis of sex all the although the NCAA claim acted in the name of inclusion its policies in fact excluded female athletes which are the very female athletes whom Title IX was passed to protect but that is not all in addition to being forced to give up our Awards and our titles and our opportunities the NCAA forced me and my female swimmers to swim to share a locker room with Thomas a six foot four 22 year old male equipped with and exposing male genitalia let me be clear about this we were not forewarned we would be sharing a locker room no one asked for our consent and we did not give our consent and I'll set the scene assuming locker room is not a place of modesty you're undressing you're fully exposed and we were forced to take off our swimsuit in front of a man who was doing the exact same thing if nothing else I truly hope how you can see this is a violation of our right to privacy and now some of us have felt uncomfortable embarrassed and even traumatized by this experience I know that I don't speak for every single person who competed against Leah Thomas but I know I speak for many because I saw the tears I saw the tears from the 9th and 17th Place finishers who missed out on being named an All-American by one place and I can attest to the extreme discomfort in the locker room when you from these 18 to 22 year old girls when you turn around and there's male eyes watching in that same room and I can attest to The Whispers And The grumbles of anger and frustration from these girls who just like myself had worked our entire lives to get to this meet and I can attest to the fact that around the country these female athletes who opposed the inclusion of Leah Thomas and the women's divisions were threatened intimidated in emotionally blackmailed into silence and submission but unfortunately our experiences are not unique the number of female athletes who have been denied opportunities traumatized or hurt by policies that claim to promote inclusion is growing at an alarming rate I hear these these female athletes and their parents I hear from these people who are seriously injured one with permanent injuries that will plague the rest of her life because she was forced to compete against a much physically stronger man this is unacceptable in the Integrity of women's sports is loss it's unfair it's discriminate discriminatory and it must stop women's rights to privacy Single Sex spaces and opportunities are being encroached on Sports sororities locker rooms dorm room shelters prisons some have tried to Tar those of us speaking up for women's safety security and opportunities as transphobic or bigoted and this is untrue I've heard from people within this community gay lesbian and trans identifying Americans that agree females should not be asked to step aside and make room for male body individuals no matter how they identify defending women's rights does not anti-anyone believing in biology is not bigoted and following the science that there are only two Sexes and that there are very real and important differences between the two Sexes is not hateful it's fact I'll end with a quote very briefly from tennis Legend Martina navratlova there will always be significant numbers of boys and men who would beat the best girls and women in head-to-head competition claims to the contrary are simply a denial of science I I thank you guys for for listening and I truly hope you heard my story thank you Miss Gaines I'm Steve Ducey I'm Brian Kilmeade and I'm Ainsley Earhart and click here to subscribe to the Fox News YouTube page to catch our hottest interviews and most compelling analysis

Channel: Fox News

Views: 103,106

Keywords: FNC, Fox News, Fox News Channel, News, girls sports, protecting pride, protecting women and girls sports, protecting womens sports, riley gaines, riley gaines opening statement, riley gaines senate, riley gaines senate hearing, riley gaines testimony, riley gaines trans athletes, senate hearing, senate protecting pride, trans athletes, trans athletes in womens sports, transgender athletes, womens sports, riley gaines interview

Id: LokPQGyOKhQ

Length: 5min 32sec (332 seconds)

Published: Wed Jun 21 2023