Riley Gaines has suggested that former USWNT player Megan Rapinoe “really shook off any guy who tried to take her place” on the roster, before branding her a “fake feminist” after Rapinoe recently opposed the Protection of Girls and Women in SportsAct.
The bill, first proposed by Florida Republican Congressman Greg Steube, seeks to ensure that genetic males compete against each other, not females — as was the case with transgender woman Lia Thomas, among others.
Unsurprisingly, Rapinoe opposes the proposed amendment to Title IX, which currently states: “No person in the United States shall be barred, on the basis of sex, from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any educational program or any activity that receives financial assistance from the federal government.”
Gaines, who has been a frontline advocate for women’s sports, responded via quote tweet Tuesday morning to Rapinoe’s March 8 post, which suggested that the proposed bill disingenuously “claimed to “protect women’s sports” by pushing a ban on trans and intersex .”
The former University of Kentucky swimmer, who was attacked by trans activists last week, suggested that Rapinoe was a hypocrite in supporting trans women, otherwise known as biological men, participating in women’s sports — and would not allow any man takes over her place in the ranking. the national team, if she was still playing.
Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines (R) has strongly criticized Megan Rapinoe (L)
Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines suggested Megan Rapinoe was a hypocrite
It’s worth noting that 1) you’re done with competitive sports and 2) because you’re not sexually attracted to men, you’ll never have a daughter to defend. To me, this just seems like virtue signaling because you personally have nothing to lose,” Gaines wrote on Twitter.
“I can respect opinions that differ from my own and everyone has the right to think/speak independently, but I can’t help but think that Megan Rapinoe would honestly scare any man who tried to get her spot on the US Women’s National Team. ‘
Rapinoe, along with several other female athletes, signed a letter sent Monday to House of Representatives lawmakers, according to SI.
“We believe that gender equality in sport is critically important, which is why we urge policymakers to focus their attention and efforts on the causes women athletes have been fighting for for decades, including equal pay, an end to abuse and assault, unequal implementation of Title IX, and a lack of access and equality for girls of color and girls with disabilities, to name a few,” the letter said.
“Our deepest hope is that transgender and intersex children will never have to feel the isolation, exclusion and otherness that HR 734 is trying to enshrine in law.”
HR 734, also known as the Protection of Girls and Women in Sports Act, would prohibit biological males from participating in girls’ or women’s sports.
Rapinoe’s stance on this is particularly intriguing given the rise of trans women like Thomas, who exemplify superior physical ability over that of biological women. The former University of Pennsylvania men’s swimmer became the first transgender person to win an NCAA swimming title.
In 2015, Rapinoe was part of the then world champion USA Women’s National Team, which lost 5-2 to U15 MLS academy team, FC Dallas.
Rapinoe, a lesbian woman, has long been an advocate for equality in women’s sports
Rapinoe, who still plays professionally for WSL side OL Reign, has long been a supporter of women’s sports and has spoken boldly about the need for equality. She was one of the figureheads who advocated for the USWNT to earn the same wages as the men’s equivalent.
“What we know is how successful women’s sport has been despite discrimination, despite a lack of investment at every level compared to men.” Rapinoe said in 2021.
“Men have been running the world all these years, maybe they should just take a few hundred years off and we can do it for a few hundred years and see where we are,” she said. The protector in 2019.
President Joe Biden sparked controversy last week after his administration proposed a ruling that would ban schools and colleges across the US from transgender athletes from playing sports that align with their identity as opposed to their biological sex.
At least 20 states have so far enacted bans on transgender students participating in sports in accordance with their gender identity. Such measures would ultimately conflict with the Department of Education’s latest proposal, if approved.
If finalized, the proposal would be enshrined as a Title IX provision. However, it certainly faces a wave of challenges.
The legendary ex-USWNT star, who plays for OL Reign, has also spoken out about trans rights