Title IX and the future of women’s sports were the focus of a talk hosted on Oct. 3 by Young Conservatives, a UT student political organization.
Riley Gaines, a former Division I All-American athlete and director of the Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute, spoke at the event. She focused on her experience competing in collegiate athletics and her advocacy against the inclusion transgender women competing in women’s divisions of sports within the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Gaines, the host of OutKick podcast “Gaines for Girls,” spoke to a room of about 60 students and community members.
Gaines became a prominent figure following her collegiate senior season where she tied for fifth place in the national championship with swimmer Lia Thomas, a transgender woman. Gaines is named as one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the NCAA for allowing Thomas to compete in 2022.
Gaines said it goes beyond just competing in sports. She said having a transgender woman in the locker room made her uncomfortable since there were no separate or private changing rooms.
“It’s awkward, it’s embarrassing, it’s uncomfortable (and) it’s humiliating,” Gaines said. “The best way to describe how we felt (was that) it was an utter violation.”
In April 2024, the Biden Administration expanded Title IX to prohibit unequal treatment of pregnant students. The expansion also prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Gaines said these expansions were “illegal” and a denial of “biblical truth.”
“Title IX has been abolished under the current administration,” Gaines said. “They’ve taken these 37 words (and) created a new proposal that’s now almost half a million words, 1,577 pages from a very brief paragraph — that should tell you everything you need to know.”
Texas sued the Biden Administration over these amendments, granting the state a temporary injunction and delaying the amendments’ implementation in the state while litigation occurs.
Gaines said she is not “anti-trans.” She said she has no opinion on what people choose to do behind closed doors, stating “that’s the beauty of America,” but is advocating for her vision of safety, privacy and equal opportunity.
“The stand that I have taken is not against any single body, any single person (or) any single thing,” Gaines said. “I don’t stand against anything, I have no hate in my heart.”
Gaines urged young people to research the candidates running for office and to vote for whoever represents them best. She did not endorse any candidates during the event.
“I encourage everyone to vote,” Gaines said. “I would never, ever tell you who to vote for. I encourage you to do your own education and research and vote for the person who you believe will represent you best.”
