Sally Reed
Several middle school girls made headlines by refusing to compete in a recent shot put event due to the inclusion of a transgender athlete in the competition. The event was reportedly held at a Harrison County Middle School in West Virginia.
Transgender Athlete Started Her Transition In The Third Grade
According to reports, the transgender athlete is named Becky Pepper-Jackson. Pepper-Jackson reportedly started to transition during her third grade year before entering puberty.
Several girls removed themselves from the shot put competition as a sign of protest. They protested the decision to allow Pepper-Jackson to compete in the event.
Pepper-Jackson Was Set To Compete In Shot Put, Discus Throwing Events
Pepper-Jackson was reportedly set to compete in the discus throwing event as well as the shot put. The protesting students removed themselves from both events.
Former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines celebrated the girls for their courageous act. She also shared a video of one of the girls that expressed her thoughts on the event and their “brave” decision.
Riley Gaines Claimed, ‘These Five Girls Are Heroes’
Riley opened up about the event and the protest through a post in her X/Twitter account. She praised each of the five girls involved for taking a monumental step.
She wrote that “these five girls are heroes.” Gaines is also known as an advocate for women athletes.
One Of The Girls ‘Specifically Called Out ACLU And Their Disregard For Women’
Gaines acknowledged that one of the five girls that protested the event expressed her feelings and thoughts on the matter during a press conference. Gaines indicated that the young girl “specifically called out ACLU and their disregard for women.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has reportedly been “at the center of nearly every major civil liberties battle in the US for more than 100 years,” according to the organization’s website. The group believes that they “have the battle-tested playbook to preserve our democracy and defend everyone’s rights.”
Transgender Athlete Won The Shot Put Event, Gaines Expressed Disappointment
One of the girls that protested the shot put and discus events indicated that the transgender athlete won the shot put event. Gaines expressed her personal disappointment of the incident through the platform Outkick.
She stated that “it’s a sad day when the middle school girls have to be the adults in the room.” She added that “conceding your event is so much easier said than done.”
Riley Gaines: ‘These Girls Have The Tenacity And Ability To Stand Their Ground’
Gaines further expressed with Outkick that “these girls have the tenacity and ability to stand their ground.” Gaines continued to praise and applaud the girls for their “brave” act within her post.
She noted that she “couldn’t be more proud of their bravery and wiliness to show their raw emotion.” She added that “girls and women have had enough.”
Riley Gaines Joined Over A Dozen College Athletes In Filing Lawsuit Against NCAA
The former Kentucky swimmer made headlines last month when she joined over a dozen college athletes in filing a lawsuit against the NCAA. The lawsuit accused the association of violating their Title IX rights.
The lawsuit revolved around the decision for the NCAA to include transgender woman Lia Thomas in the competition during the national championships in 2022.
Gaines, Other Swimmers Were Shocked To Share Locker Room With Thomas
The lawsuit was reportedly filed in the U.S. District Court located in Atlanta. It highlighted the shock that Riley Gaines and the other swimmers experienced as they found out that they would have to share a locker room with Lia Thomas during the championships in Atlanta.
The lawsuit documents the races that the swimmers competed in alongside Lia Thomas. It includes the 200-yard final where Gaines and Thomas tied for fifth place. However, Thomas was the one that reportedly received the fifth place trophy – not Gaines.
Lia Thomas: ‘I Just Want To Shaw Trans Kids…That They’re Not Alone’
Lia Thomas gave an exclusive interview to Sports Illustrated in early March 2022 regarding the controversy surrounding her journey as an award-winning athlete. She stated that she just wanted “to show trans kids and younger trans athletes that they’re not alone.”
She added that “they don’t have to choose between who they are and the sport they love.” According to Sports Illustrated, Thomas “throttled” the competition during her first year of swimming for the women’s team at Penn.
Thomas Stated That She Wanted ‘To Swim And Compete As Who I Am’
Thomas acknowledged that she was not clear exactly “what the future of [her] swimming will look like” after that year. However, she confirmed that she “would love to continue doing it.”
In her own words, she stated that, “I want to swim and compete as who I am.” Thomas reportedly swam the first three years spent at Penn for the men’s swim team.
Michael Phelps Referred To Transgender Swimmer’s Controversy As ‘Complicated’
U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps made headlines with his comments regarding the controversy with Lia Thomas and the University of Pennsylvania women’s swim team. He noted that the controversy surrounding her success was “complicated.”
He expressed his belief that everyone “should feel comfortable with who we are in our own skin.” However, he noted that “sports should be played on an even playing field.” He later acknowledged that he is not exactly sure what an “even playing field” would consist of anymore.
NCAA: Trans Athletes Must Complete Year Of ‘Testosterone Suppression Treatment’
According to the NCAA, a transgender female athlete must complete at least one year of “testosterone suppression treatment” before being able to compete for a college women’s sports team. Thomas had reportedly completed over two years of her hormone replacement therapy at the time of the controversy.
Her first season on the women’s team occurred during the 2020-21 season. That season was reportedly cancelled by the school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawsuit Was Intended To Secure Title IX For ‘Future Generations Of Women’
The lawsuit stated that the plaintiffs intended to use the case to ensure that the “promise of Title IX” was secured “for future generations of women.” It claimed that the promise was currently denied to them “and other college women” directly by the NCAA.
Quite a few critics have expressed their belief that transgender athletes have an unfair advantage in sports when competing against cisgender women. For instance, a freshman transgender girl would have a clear advantage over their cisgender opponents as well as their teammates.
NCAA: ‘College Sports Are The Premier Stage For Women’s Sports In America’
The NCAA published a statement in response to the lawsuit that highlighted the association’s stand on college sports and Title IX protections. It noted that “college sports are the premier stage for women’s sports in America.”
The statement acknowledged that the NCAA did not “comment on pending litigation.” However, it made it clear that the association planned to “continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women’s sports and ensure fair competition in all NCAA championships.”
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings