Riley Gaines criticized the Biden administration when former NCAA swimmer Lia Thomas endorsed the bill to amend Title IX to prohibit states from barring transgender students from competing against the same gender as they identify .
Thomas, who created a firestorm in women’s swimming when she won an Ivy League and NCAA championship against biological women, voiced her support for Title IX changes in a video tweeted by Gaines.
The former Kentucky standout swimmer has been at the forefront of the fight to maintain equality in women’s sports as the debate continues over whether transgender women should be allowed to compete against biological women.
Penn Quakers swimmer Lia Thomas holds up a trophy after finishing fifth in the 200 free at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships as Kentucky Wildcats swimmer Riley Gaines looks on at Georgia Tech. (Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
“Under the guise of competitive fairness? Are you really trying to say that you would have won a national title against the men? Doesn’t it break your heart to see women miss out on these opportunities?” Gaines wrote in a tweet. “Biden Admins proposed bill denies science, truth and common sense.
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“This take is self-serving and shows complete disregard for women. The Biden Administration is actively and aggressively working to pass laws that will eliminate decent and fair treatment for women in sports. @POTUS.”
The latest criticism of Gaines came after the White House vowed to veto a bill that would prevent biological men from participating in women’s sports if it passes both houses of Congress.
The Women and Girls in Sports Protection Act, or HR 734, was introduced by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., and is expected to go to a full House vote sometime this week.
BIDEN TO VETO GOP BILL PROTECTING FEMALE SPORTS, CALLS IT ‘DISCRIMINATION’ AGAINST TRANSGENDER STUDENTS
“The Administration strongly opposes House passage of HR 734,” the White House said in a statement. “For students across the country, participating in sports and being part of a team is an important part of growing up, staying involved in school, and learning leadership and life skills. HR 734 would deny many families access to sports by establishing an outright ban on transgender students, even those as young as elementary school, playing on a team consistent with their gender identity.”
SEC champion swimmer Riley Gaines speaks during the general session of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas, USA, on August 6, 2022. (REUTERS/Go Nakamura)
The statement accused politicians of issuing a “one-size-fits-all requirement that forces coaches to remove children from their teams,” arguing that transgender youth across the country already faced a mental health crisis.
He stated that such a law was “unnecessary” and that it “harms families and students.”
“Discrimination has no place in our nation’s schools or on our playing fields. Instead of addressing the pressing issues facing families and students today, like raising teacher pay, keeping guns out of schools , addressing the mental health crisis facing our youth, and helping students learn and recover academically from unprecedented disruptions — Congressional Republicans have chosen to prioritize policies that discriminate against children,” the White House said.
President Biden visits IBM to announce a $20 billion investment in the Hudson Valley. (The direct image for Fox News Digital)
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“If the president were presented with HR 734, he would veto it,” he added.
Fox News’ Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.
