Former college swimmer-turned-activist Riley Gaines laughed at a group of foul-mouthed protesters protesting her appearance at a Milwaukee event before Wednesday’s GOP presidential debate.
A dozen or so protesters, some holding large banners that read “Stop Trans Genocide,” repeatedly yelled “F–k you, Riley” on a relatively quiet city sidewalk. They also chanted “Go home Riley” and “Can’t swim Riley,” a Gaines video posted on Xformerly known as Twitter, shows.
“Shake me Timbers, I’m so scared!!!!!!!!” former University of Kentucky swimmer writes.
“The only things I’ve found protestors (sic) can say about me are 1) some variation of calling me a bigot 2) calling me ugly 3) telling me I should swim faster and train harder if I want to win. But now we’ve unlocked ‘Go’ and a sign that says ‘bye Riley.’” he added.
Gaines, who drew against controversial University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2022 NCAA Championships, has since advocated against biological men competing in women’s sports.
She is the director of the Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute, which aims to create “courageous leaders to protect women in America,” according to its website.
Protesters held signs and told Gaines to “go home” in Milwaukee on Wednesday. FOX News
“If you really think this does anything but make me laugh and pray for them, you’d be wrong,” Gaines tweeted, adding, “And I CAN swim.” Twitter/@Riley_Gaines_
Gaines, 24, also joked that the protesters were the “last straw” and made him quit his activism.
“Shit!” he immediately replied. “If you really think this does anything but make me laugh and pray for them, you’d be wrong. Trans genocide doesn’t exist. I support at least: privacy, safety and justice for women. & I can swim.”
Gaines has been vocal in his belief that men’s biologically greater strength and endurance make competition with women unfair.
Lia Thomas and Riley Gaines tied for 5th in the 200 Freestyle final at the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
In April, Gaines was “ambushed and physically assaulted” by a group of trans-rights protesters who stormed her speech about protecting women’s sports at San Francisco State.
Earlier this month, she was also targeted at the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame at Texas Woman’s University in Denton by “hostile” protesters who gathered against the “Save Women Sports Act,” according to Fox News.
Gaines, director of the Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute, also joked that the protesters were the “last straw” and made him stop his activism.AP
Gaines recently said on Bill Maher’s podcast that Thomas, a natural boy, was so endowed that she and other female swimmers had to “hold back from looking” while changing in the same locker room.
Some swimmers even changed in the janitor’s closet to avoid Thomas, he said.
“We cannot cancel it. Being in that space with men, it was like a bad car accident,” she told Maher.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
