Women's sports activist Riley Gaines says she receives 'overwhelming' bipartisan support

Celeb Highlights

WASHINGTON (TND) — Data shows most Americans support banning trans athletes from competition.

Gallup polling reports that 69% of American adults say birth gender should be the deciding factor in sports, not gender identity. That's a 7-point increase in this viewpoint over the past two years.

It shows even the majority of Democrats know this lunacy, especially as it pertains to sports, is wrong," said former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines.

Gaines tied at the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving National Championships with 6’4” transgender woman Lia Thomas. After the experience, she set out to shed light on what she sees as a gross injustice in women’s sports.

"I was like hold on, this is exactly what Title 9 was passed to prevent," said Gaines.

While those on the political Left are more likely to support trans-athletes, Gaines says she increasingly feels support from both sides.

The support from the Left, it’s actually been pretty overwhelming," said Gaines. "I get, you know, your typical, original meaning of a feminist. These women who are so baffled by the way Democrats and the Left are handling these issues, who once championed themselves for fighting for women and protecting women.

In a Vice News interview this past spring, Lia Thomas said her story has been weaponized by those against trans rights.

"It’s really heartbreaking to see that my story and my experience be used to harm other trans," said Thomas. "Everybody just seemingly wanted to focus on this big, supposed controversy of it all rather than focus on the human element of being trans."

Fellow trans athlete Schuyler Bailar says critics who make the “fairness” argument miss the point of sports.

"Most people don’t play sports to win," said Bailar. "Most people just play for fun."

The White House remains firm in its support of trans athletes, enshrining protections for LGBTQ+ competitors through changes to Title 9 slated to take effect this October.

ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifK%2Bx1qxmp5mknryvedaoqaWcX6y8rrHNrGSsqJ%2BnwbR5wJyroq6ZqMFuusKamGarp566rrHRZqmipJWueqityKecrGWjlsa0edKhnGaqlZiyqsLErGSorpWnxKmxy6agp59dl7axrdGtoKyZnmLAtrzPqKmtZZyer6a%2BwKVknKeeqLKzwsCtoK%2BdXZyurbjUqWSpp5yheq21wGaroaedlsBuuMabq6plpJ7BrbGMcg%3D%3D