Former college swimmer and prominent activist Riley Gaines has launched a sharp critique against the Democratic Party, accusing them of misrepresenting their own supporters' views on the participation of transgender women in women's sports.
A Partisan Divide on Transgender Participation
In a recent interview with Fox Business anchor Stu Varney, Gaines argued that the issue has become unnecessarily partisan. She suggested that elected officials and media portrayals create a false impression of a nation evenly split on the matter. "This is an issue that has, unfortunately, become totally partisan," Gaines stated, adding that the common 50/50 framing is misleading.
Gaines went further, making a bold claim about the sentiment within the Democratic Party itself. She asserted that 80 percent of Democrats do not support the inclusion of trans women in female sports, describing the concept as "insane, ridiculous, harmful, [and] destructive." Her comments extended beyond sports to include broader gender identity issues.
Polling Data Tells a Different Story
However, established polling data appears to contradict Gaines's figures. A Gallup poll published in June provides a different perspective on American public opinion.
The poll found that 69 percent of Americans believe transgender athletes should only play on teams matching their birth gender. When broken down by party affiliation, a significant divide emerges:
- 90% of Republicans agree with this position.
- Only 41% of Democrats agree, a figure substantially lower than the 80 percent claimed by Gaines.
On the broader subject of transitioning, the same poll indicated that 71 percent of Democrats find it "morally acceptable," compared to just nine percent of Republicans.
From the Pool to Political Activism
Riley Gaines has built a second career as a leading voice against the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports. Her views were shaped by her experience as a swimmer at the University of Kentucky, where she shared a locker room with Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania.
She is now a regular contributor to Fox News and hosts her own show on the conservative sports media platform Outkick. Her activism, however, has recently come under scrutiny.
Journalist Pablo Torre published a six-month investigation into Gaines's career, characterising her activism as a potential "grift" and questioning her focus. The investigation highlighted that Gaines has not been publicly vocal about other issues facing women in sports, such as the case involving her former coach, Lars Jorgensen.
Jorgensen was recently ruled "permanently ineligible" from coaching by the US Center for SafeSport due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Gaines dismissed Torre's investigation as a "baseless hit piece."
The debate over transgender athletes continues to be a deeply polarising issue in the sporting world and beyond, with figures like Riley ensuring it remains firmly in the public eye.
