All-American University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines has criticized President Joe Biden for pledging to veto a bill prohibiting biological males from participating in competitive women’s sports.
The White House announced President Biden’s intent to veto the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, or H.R. 734, a bill being pushed through by new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to the applause of Republicans and those concerned for the future of women’s sports. The House is expected to pass the bill later this week.
The White House statement on H.R. 734 noted the president “strongly opposed” the bill and claimed the bill denies “access to sports for many families by establishing an absolute ban on transgender students.”
The White House statement referred to the bill as “discriminatory” and claimed the law was “unnecessary.”
If passed, the new legislation would prohibit schools receiving Title IX federal funding from allowing “a person whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designed for women or girls.”
The bill stipulates that the sex of an athlete is determined by their “reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”
The vast majority of Democrats in the House oppose the bill. The House Education and Workforce Committee approved the legislation 25-17 — no Democrats voted to support the bill.
Gaines responded to the White House statement by claiming Biden was putting the interests of a “radical minority” ahead of the safety and welfare of women across the country.
“The President has declared that science, truth, and common sense no longer matter. In opposing this bill, President Biden is catering to a radical minority at the expense of women, who are 51% of the population,” Gaines said.
“Equal opportunity, privacy, and safety in our sports shouldn’t be controversial,” added the swimming champion. “The women who once advocated for Title IX should be outraged as this goes against everything they fought for. Female athletes of all ages, levels, and sports deserve better.”
The following world-class athletes oppose allowing biological men to compete against biological women: NFL Quarterback Brett Favre, Olympian Caitlyn Jenner, Tennis Champion Martina Navratilova, runner Paula Radcliffe, Olympian Kelly Holmes, Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, softball star Donna Lopiano and high school track star Chelsea Mitchell.
The issue continues to be in the spotlight with recent trans biological men winning high-level women’s cycling and weightlifting events.
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