The Riley Gaines Act was signed into law in West Virginia by Gov. Patrick Morrisey, codifying definitions of “man” and “woman” into state law. The measure aims to preserve women’s restrooms, sleeping quarters, locker rooms, and other private facilities for the sole use of women to prevent abuse, harassment, sexual assault, and violence committed by men. Riley Gaines, a conservative political figure, had a law of a similar name passed in Georgia focused on sports after her tie with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2022 NCAA women’s swimming championships. Gaines sees the legislation named after her as an honor and a way to defend women’s rights and biological reality.
Gaines’ movement, which aims to protect women from transgender athletes, has become a nationwide movement with its own merchandising industry. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to prevent trans athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports, which Gaines attended. Despite the executive order and laws in 27 states combating trans athlete inclusion, Gaines believes there is still work to be done in this area. States like California, Maine, Minnesota, and Massachusetts continue to allow trans athletes to compete with females, and efforts like the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act have faced challenges in the U.S. Senate.
Gaines has pledged to help remove all 45 Democrat senators who voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, and she has not ruled out a potential run for political office herself in the future. While she initially did not see herself entering politics, she now feels passionately about issues like the America-first agenda. Gaines acknowledges that influencing policy can be a challenging task but believes she may eventually see herself doing so. With support from leaders like President Trump and Gov. Morrisey paving the way, Gaines remains dedicated to her cause and hopes to continue making an impact on the issue of transgender athletes in sports.
Despite progress in passing laws and executive orders to address the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, Gaines believes there is still work to be done. She acknowledges that the fight against the “war on woke” is not over yet, and more leaders like President Trump and Gov. Morrisey are needed to continue paving the way. Gaines plans to continue advocating for the protection of women’s rights and biological reality. As she considers a potential future in politics, Gaines remains committed to influencing policy and addressing the issue of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. With the support of her growing movement and political figures, Gaines is determined to make a difference in this controversial and widely debated issue.
