Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines delivered a powerful opening statement at the Senate hearing titled "Protecting Pride: Defending the Civil Rights of LGBTQ+ Americans." Gaines directly addressed comments made by Lia Thomas in an April podcast interview, where Thomas suggested that those advocating for fairness in women's sports were masking "transphobic beliefs" under the "guise of feminism."
During the Senate session, Senator Josh Hawley questioned Gaines about her perspective on Thomas's statements. Gaines countered by asserting that feminism is not a malleable concept. She emphasized that true feminism involves upholding, respecting, and celebrating the unique physical attributes and accomplishments of women. She characterized Thomas's remarks as a male attempting to define feminism, which she found ironic.
Thomas, in the podcast interview, also discussed the divided support she received from some University of Pennsylvania teammates while competing as a transgender woman. Thomas expressed frustration with those who claimed to respect her identity while simultaneously questioning the fairness of her participation in women's sports. Thomas interpreted this as a thinly veiled form of transphobia.
Gaines, in her testimony, highlighted the importance of recognizing and honoring the distinct physical differences between biological sexes in the context of athletic competition. She criticized the NCAA for allowing Thomas to compete in women's championships. Gaines’s testimony underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports and the complex intersection of fairness, inclusion, and individual rights.
