A federal judge has pressed pause on a Biden administration effort to protect transgender students and workers in 20 states, including Kentucky. The new order allows the commonwealth and other states to move forward with anti-trans policies without risk of retaliation or lost federal funds.
It’s a ruling being praised by supporters of limits on transgender participation in women’s sports, who argue it makes for unfair competition. Opponents say the new ruling amounts to “legislating from the bench.”
Taking place against the backdrop of that legal tug-of-war is a more personal dispute involving a former University of Kentucky swimmer, who is speaking out against one of the NCAA’s Woman of the Year nominees. Riley Gaines, an outspoken critic of allowing transgender athletes to compete in her sport, tweeted that the Woman of the Year nomination of Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete, is a “slap in the face to women.”
Being the real girl in that photo and also University of Kentucky's nominee for NCAA WOTY, this is yet another slap in the face to women. First a female national title and now nominated for the pinnacle award in collegiate athletics. The @NCAA has made this award worthless. https://t.co/MRCieqbltd
— Riley Gaines (@RileyGaines) July 16, 2022
Gaines recently told Fox News she feels coaches and other top sports officials are wary of receiving backlash if they air any concerns about the issue.
"They have higher-ups above them, who could be intimidating them or threatening them, so I think that they're scared to speak out about it, but the more voices — whether it be athletes, coaches, non-athletes — it really matters."Former UK swimmer Riley Gaines
Thomas, who began hormone replacement therapy in 2019, recently told CBS winning more medals had nothing to do with the decision to transition.
"Trans people don't transition for athletics. We transition to be happy and authentic and our true selves. Transitioning to get an advantage is not something that ever factors in to our decision."University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas
The dispute between Gaines and Thomas, and the larger legal battles looming in the background, show the controversy is nowhere near the finish line.
