Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer, sharply criticized Democratic lawmakers on Thursday for their unanimous opposition to the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.
The bill, which aims to amend Title IX to prevent federally funded schools from allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports, passed the House in late April with a 219-203 vote.
Not a single Democratic vote was cast in favor of the bill, and several Democratic lawmakers accused Republicans of “bullying” transgender student-athletes with their support of the legislation.
In an interview on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Gaines questioned the priorities of Democratic fathers who voted against the bill, suggesting that they had put political interests above their responsibilities as parents.
She expressed disbelief at their willingness to ignore the potential consequences for their daughters, such as sharing locker rooms with biological males or losing opportunities and recognition in sports to male competitors.
Related: “It Was Terrifying For Me”: Riley Gaines Speaks Out After Brutal Assault by Trans Protesters
“This is another question I tend to find myself asking, specifically and thinking about fathers… when every single Democrat voted in opposition of protecting women and girls in sports. In particular, I think of those dads who did that. Those dads, do they want their daughters sharing locker rooms with men?” she asked.
“Do they want their daughters losing out on opportunities being asked to kindly step aside and smile and give away their trophy to a man? Is that what they want?” she continued.
Gaines insisted that these lawmakers likely did not truly want these outcomes for their children, but nevertheless succumbed to political pressure.
“I truthfully believe in my heart the answer is no. Yet, they are willing to throw that out of the window and say yes. That is what they want. And it’s because they are spineless. They have no backbone, no morals, and they are cowards,” Gaines said.
The former swimmer’s comments came after a California high school senior gained attention for a passionate speech condemning her school district’s decision to allow a biologically male student to use the women’s locker room.
The student argued that the school was putting the safety of female students in “jeopardy” by permitting transgender students to share bathroom and locker room facilities with them.
This situation was highlighted by a viral video showing a transgender student assaulting a female student on campus.
Parents and students reportedly told Fox 11 in Los Angeles that the transgender student involved in the altercation had a history of “erratic and uncomfortable behavior” and had access to girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms.
According to students, the individual openly displayed his genitals in the girls’ locker room. The student was ultimately expelled from the school, and Riverside Police confirmed that this was not the first altercation involving the transgender student.
Gaines, who had previously shared a locker room with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas during their time as NCAA athletes, also expressed disappointment at the silence of many mothers and female role models on the issue.
She noted that women have typically been at the forefront of fights women’s rights and expressed amazement that so many have remained quiet or passive in this particular debate.
“It seems to be whether that be at the state level, the federal level, across the general public, it seems that it’s women who are fighting the sex-based protections….it’s mind-boggling,” she said. “It’s something I truly don’t understand.
Related: Riley Gaines Rips Brittany Griner to Shreds Over Her Betrayal of Women Athletes
She argued that the current situation is the result of women being “agreeable” and not speaking out boldly: “I think we can agree that women typically tend to be more agreeable. They tend to not want to ruffle feathers, they don’t want to step on toes. But that’s how we have gotten here – by being agreeable, by being quiet, by not being bold and using our voice.”
In an earlier interview with Fox News, Gaines commented on the apparent reversal of the Democratic Party’s historical commitment to women’s rights, stating, “It’s ironic that the left was once a party that embraced women and fought for women’s rights. And now we’ve seen this narrative being totally flipped.”
She predicted that this stance would have negative consequences for Democrats in the 2024 elections, asserting, “It just shows the war on women is underway, and the Democrats will pay for this in 2024.”