Riley Gaines Laudes Girls Who Refused To Compete With Trans Athlete As Heroes

Riley Gaines applauded a group of middle school girls who decided against competing against a transgender athlete last week. She is a former collegiate swimmer with the Kentucky Wildcats and has been an ardent advocate for fairness in women’s sports,

Gaines and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey recently made an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “America Reports” along with West not long after the official announced he will oppose the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals’ legislation to nullify the state’s “Save Women’s Sports Act.”

Students Protest Trans Athlete Inclusion

Middle schoolers at Bridgeport, West Virginia in a viral video refused to enter the circle for the shot put and discus events but left in protest after noticing that a transgender athlete was competing against them, as reported by OutKick.

“I could not be more proud of these girls,” Gaines, an OutKick contributor who hosts the “Gaines for Girls” podcast told Sandra Smith.

Transgender Athlete Emerges Victorious

The transgender athlete, Becky Pepper-Jackson is 13 years old and began transitioning in third grade before hitting puberty.

One of the girls who stepped out of the 2024 Harrison County Middle School Championships shot put and discus event mentioned that the transgender athlete emerged victorious in the shot put event.

Gaines Lauds Middle-Schoolers For Taking Responsibility

She mentioned that she was impressed that despite their young ages—13 and 14 years of age— and their middle school status, “they’re the ones who are forced to be the adults in the room to advocate for their own rights to quality opportunity, safety and privacy which were once ensured by Title IX.”

Those rights, she says were once protected by West Virginia law but are now “under threat” by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling, setting a “terrible precedent.”

“This Is What We’re Fighting For,” Gaines Says

She added that she was immensely proud and inspired by their actions. “Ultimately, that’s what revitalizes me. It reminds me of what we’re fighting for. It’s girls just like Emmy Salerno and the other four girls who decided not to compete against a boy when given the opportunity,” she said.

Morrisey really praised those girls, saying what they did last week should “be replicated across the country.” He also emphasized how high the stakes are and urged everyone to take notice.

Morrisey Takes Stand In Supreme Court

Earlier, Morrisey and Gaines were together for the symbolic signing of the “Stand With Women” pledge by Independent Women’s Voice.

Afterward, Morrisey declared that he would bring the state’s case regarding the Save Women’s Sports Act to the Supreme Court. The state law stopped transgender girls from playing against biological girls in sports.

Law Is Based On Biology And Fairness

However, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 ruling found that the law had violated Title IX, taking the same stance as the American Civil Liberties Union, its West Virginia chapter, and Lambda Legal.

“We’re vigorously defending the law and that law is reasonable,” Morrisey said. “It’s based on biology and it’s based on fairness.

Push For Fairness And Equality

He emphasized that the struggle is about safeguarding the integrity of women’s sports and ensuring the protection of young women. He stressed the importance of seizing every opportunity for women and girls.

“That isn’t just unfair. Boys have a competitive advantage. They’re bigger. They’re faster. They’re stronger – whether or not they’ve gone through typical biological male puberty,” he said.

Allowing Males To Compete In Women’s Sports Is Unfair And Discriminatory, It Must Stop!

Gaines added at the news conference that it is risky to continue to permit males to compete in women’s sports adding that it is “unfair and it is discriminatory. And it must stop – which is exactly what AG Morrisey has been fighting so tenaciously for.”

West Virginia’s “Save Women’s Sports Act” was signed into law in 2021. It demands that student-athletes must compete and play against those of the same biological gender as them.

Legal Battles Over State Law: Challenges And Rulings

The law was opposed because it violates the 14th Amendment and protections under Title IX. U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin passed a verdict in January 2023 that the law does not disregard the protections in Title IX.

However, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to reinstate a preliminary injunction. Last April, the Supreme Court ruled that the transgender girl who contested the law should be allowed to compete with biological girls on the middle school’s girls’ sports teams.

Supreme Court Opposes Appeal Court Ruling

The Supreme Court decided not to change a decision from an appeals court that let the girl keep running on her school’s track and cross-country teams. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas disagreed with the decision.

West Virginia was one of 24 states with laws stopping transgender women and girls from competing with the gender they identify as.

Revisiting The NCAA Transgender Athlete Lawsuit: Evolving Perspectives On Title IX

Riley Gaines recently joined 14 other athletes in filing a lawsuit against the NCAA after Lia Thomas—a transgender athlete—won at the 2022 NCAA championships against other female athletes.

Their argument was that the NCAA’s rules for transgender athletes went against Title IX, which bans discrimination based on sex, and the 14th Amendment. However, with the changes made to Title IX, it would be interesting to see their stance now.

Riley Gaines Leading NCAA Lawsuit

The lawsuit led by the Independent Council on Women’s Sports could really shake things up because the NCAA sets the rules for over 1,100 colleges and universities. The lawsuit also named Georgia Tech University, University of Georgia, University of North Georgia, and members of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia as defendants.

Other plaintiffs in the case include Riley Gaines, Kylee Alons, Kaitlynn Wheeler, Eddie Eades, Lily Mullens, Kate Pearson, Susan Price, Carter Satterfield, Katie Blankinship, Katie Blankinship, Ainsley Erzen and a few unnamed athletes. Riley Gaines however, remains the familiar name as the face of the lawsuit.

“Change Your Rules,” Lawsuit Tells NCAA

The lawsuit demanded that the NCAA should make adjustments to its rules and put a ban on those athletes assigned male at birth from competing against female athletes.