Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, who competed against transgender athlete Lia Thomas, attended the Republican National Convention to speak out against the Democratic Party's stance on women's rights, particularly in the context of athletic competition. Gaines expressed her support for the Trump-Vance ticket, emphasizing their commitment to upholding sex-based protections and criticizing New York Attorney General Letitia James for suing Nassau County over its ban on biological males in women's sports.
Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, who gained prominence for competing against transgender athlete Lia Thomas, attended the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Tuesday, July 16th, 2024. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Gaines shared her message to New York Attorney General Letitia James and Democrats who claim to be the party for women's rights.
Gaines criticized James' lawsuit against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman over a newly-enacted law banning biological males from participating in women's sporting events at county-run parks and facilities. She accused the attorney general of targeting dissenting viewpoints and expressed gratitude for Blakeman's actions.
Riley Gaines Defends Women's Rights at RNC, Calls Out Democrats for Opposing Sex-Based Protections
"Being in the position that he's in one of the largest counties, to do what he has done, is common sense," Gaines said. "This is not a battle of right versus left. This is a humanitarian issue. The message that's being sent by those such as the attorney general of New York, is that girls don't matter, is that our safety doesn't matter, and our sports, our privacy doesn't matter in our locker rooms, and our equal opportunities don't matter."
Gaines also spoke about the Democratic Party's stance on women's rights, arguing that they are far from being the party that protects women's well-being. She criticized Democrats for supporting transgender athletes competing in women's and girls' titles and for being unable to define what a woman is.
Riley Gaines Defends Women's Rights at RNC, Calls Out Democrats for Opposing Sex-Based Protections
"How in the world can you claim to defend what you can't define?" Gaines questioned. "Why I'm here is to merely share the simple message that men and women are different, but it's really broader than just the sports angle."
Gaines declared that the Democratic Party is in complete denial of objective truth and biological reality. She alleged that they ignore the fundamental distinction between men and women, a principle that has been understood for nearly 250 years in the United States.
Riley Gaines Defends Women's Rights at RNC, Calls Out Democrats for Opposing Sex-Based Protections
Gaines endorsed former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and urged women to vote for him. She emphasized that the Trump-Vance ticket is the only one that will fight for sex-based rights, including safety, privacy, and equal opportunity in various settings.
"Every female, every woman, every mother, every sister, every daughter, should also vote for Donald J. Trump," Gaines said. "There is only one party, there is only one ticket that will uphold sex-based protections that will fight for sex-based rights such as safety, privacy and equal opportunity."
Riley Gaines Defends Women's Rights at RNC, Calls Out Democrats for Opposing Sex-Based Protections
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed Resolution 165, aimed at blocking the Biden administration's new Title IX protections overhauling the Education Amendments Act of 1972. Gaines praised the Republicans who voted in favor of protecting women and girls in sports and criticized the Democrats who opposed the resolution.
"Every single last one of the mothers and fathers of their own young daughters, all 205 Democrats who voted in opposition of protecting women and girls in sports are in our dorm rooms, our locker rooms, our bathrooms, our scholarships, compelling your speech," Gaines said. "Again, how as a woman could you vote for that, knowing not just for yourself, but for the next generation?"
Riley Gaines Defends Women's Rights at RNC, Calls Out Democrats for Opposing Sex-Based Protections
