NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Riley Gaines delivered a poignant message to Democrats, who have supported transgender athletes against efforts to protect women’s and girls’ sports as major Supreme Court cases loom.
Gaines, an OutKick podcast host and former NCAA star swimmer who has fought to keep men out of women’s and girls’ sports, appeared on Pakinomist Channel’s “Faulkner Focus” and suggested that those opposed to the save women’s sports movement were doing girls, like her daughter, a disservice.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Riley Gaines speaks during the 10X Ladies Conference hosted by Elena Cardone at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa on August 15, 2025 in Aventura, Florida. (Ivan Apfel/Getty Images)
“The last three months now, it’s changed my perspective on everything. The things you thought you’d never worry about, they feel critical,” Gaines said. “Things that you once cared a lot about, they seem trivial. I’ll tell you, my daughter … she’ll be right here with me tomorrow on the steps of the Supreme Court because that’s who we’re fighting for.
“So, all these Democrats who think they’re giving President Trump the middle finger by taking the opposite side of this issue, that’s not who you’re giving the middle finger to. You’re giving the middle finger to my 3-month-old daughter, and frankly, even talking about this could bring tears to my eyes. That’s who I’m fighting for.”
Supreme Court justices will hear arguments in the cases Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. BPJ on Tuesday.
Idaho and West Virginia are among nearly 30 states with laws that prevent transgender students who identify as female from competing on girls’ sports teams sponsored by public schools and colleges. In 2020 and 2021, trans athlete plaintiffs successfully challenged laws in Idaho and West Virginia, respectively, to allow their participation on women’s and girls’ sports teams.
Both trans athletes are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Riley Gaines signs copies of his book outside the Fiserv Forum during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
THE ATHLETES, COACHES, LEGISLATORS AND OFFICIALS WHO HAVE CHOSEN A SIDE IN THE SCOTUS WOMEN’S SPORTS BATTLE
The justices will examine whether the landmark federal law, Title IX, which prohibits gender discrimination in education, applies in these inclusion cases.
In 2020, Idaho became the first state to enact such restrictions with the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.
Both sides in the legal dispute have accused the other of peddling false and misleading facts, terminology and narratives about state law enforcement and the efforts of both transgender and cisgender athletes.
States with such laws, and groups and lawmakers who support them, say the issue is one of common sense and student safety.
Lawyers will tell the high court that there are inherent physical differences between women and men, and these legislative actions will ensure that what they call “male” or “boy” students cannot compete on girls’ sports teams that involve competitive skills or contact.
But LGBTQ+ rights advocates say such laws and labels are clearly discriminatory and were never much of a problem until some states tried to politicize them.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
The Supreme Court agreed in July to hear the separate appeals by the states and is expected to issue final, binding decisions on the merits in late June.
