On Tuesday, during a House Oversight hearing, supporters of women’s sports once again raised the alarm about the infiltration of men who consider themselves “transgender” into women’s sports.
At the start of the hearing, Democratic Rep. Summer Lee accused witnesses scheduled to speak of “transphobia” for refusing to believe that “transgender” biological men are women and stated that “playing sports is not about winning.” During opening statements, Riley Gaines returned fire at Lee.
“If my testimony makes me transphobic, then I think your opening monologue makes you a misogynist,” Gaines said. Townhall previously reported that Gaines was forced to share a locker room with Will “Lia” Thomas, a man who believes he is a woman and became involved with him during last year’s NCAA swimming championships. After photographing the trophy, Thomas was allowed to take it home, while Gaines left empty-handed.
🔥IWF Ambassador @Riley_Gaines_ Condemns MP Summer Lee for her hypocrisy and falsely equating women’s empowerment with transphobia.
“If my testimony makes me transphobic, then I think your opening monologue makes you a misogynist.” pic.twitter.com/gZv62QeSvc
— Independent Women’s Forum (@IWF) December 5, 2023
While another witness was speaking, Lee interrupted and fired at Gaines.
“Madam President, if you’ll excuse me, I request that this gentlewoman’s words be deleted,” Lee interjected.
“Madam President, she deals with personalities,” Lee added.
Gaines turned on the mic and said, “Can I ask how fair it is to call yourself transphobic…” before being cut off.
Another member of Congress jumped in to defend Gaines, stating, “I would say that men who dress as women are engaging in personality.”
This is Rep. Summer Lee @Riley_Gaines_ promotes “transphobic bigotry” in favor of opposing boys in girls’ sports.
Riley replies, “If my testimony makes me transphobic, then you are a misogynist.”🔥
pic.twitter.com/K0aRH1gz8g— YAF (@yaf) December 5, 2023
During the hearing, National Women’s Law Center President Fatima Goss Graves said athletes like Gaines should “learn to lose gracefully” to men who believe they are women and rob them of rewards and opportunities.
National Women’s Law Center President Fatima Goss Graves, a liberal witness at the Title IX hearing, says female athletes should “learn to lose gracefully” to biological men. pic.twitter.com/2YPqQDk0cQ
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 5, 2023
Kentucky Republican James Comer reacted sharply to Graves’ comments.
“When I think of great Kentucky athletes, the first thing that comes to mind is our witness, Riley Gaines,” Comer said. Gaines competed in swimming at the University of Kentucky.
“We had a witness who suggested that because you work so challenging your whole life to be the best… and you have to lose the title or share it with a biological male… we had a witness on the panel who suggested that you just lost gracefully. “I think it’s a slap in the face to every athlete who works so hard,” Comer said.
“When I think of Kentucky’s great athletes, our witness, @Riley_Gaines_is the first name that comes up.
@RepJamesComer DESTROYS a Democratic witness who suggests that talented, hard-working women like Riley should “lose gracefully” to biological men. pic.twitter.com/fOBe5xyUNx— Supervisory Committee (@GOPoversight) December 5, 2023
Another witness, Kim Russell, a former college coach, explained that she was injured by an athlete while playing on a co-ed team. Townhall described Russell coaching women’s lacrosse at Oberlin College in Ohio. Earlier this year, she broke her silence on how she was “burned at the stake” for opposing “transgender” biological men in women’s sports.
“There are extreme differences in the biology of men and women. I have experienced this as an athlete, coach and parent. As an athlete, I chose to play co-ed field hockey as an adult. Because of this, I had the worst injury I have ever had. “The man fell on top of me… I’m 5’7″, maybe 120 pounds, and I’m soaking damp… when he fell on me, two of my ribs popped out of my sternum,” Russell details.
As Townhall previously noted, Russell was “cancelled” by her players and employer for supporting women,
“It’s cancel culture. What has happened is that children are too afraid to say anything. Parents are afraid to say anything. Trainers are very afraid of losing their jobs,” she said.
Kim Russell details her horrific injury after an athlete fell on it during a co-ed field hockey game. This experience led her to speak out against men in women’s sports.
Oberlin College put woke ideology above the safety of the women’s lacrosse team when they fired Coach Russell. pic.twitter.com/OFUPMnST92
— Supervisory Committee (@GOPoversight) December 5, 2023
“Oberlin College removed me from coaching women’s lacrosse after I chose to tell my story publicly and refused to remain silent or back down from my belief that men – no matter how they identify – should not be allowed to participate in women’s lacrosse sporting events, Russell said. “It seems that Oberlin, like many upper-level institutions today, only supports the First Amendment if your values are consistent with theirs.”
“I do not want and will not apologize for saying that biological men should not appear in women’s sports and private spaces,” Russell promised.
“I have been a women’s lacrosse coach for over 27 years.
“I have been inducted into three halls of fame for coaching and contributing to lacrosse and have had an award named in my name.
“Oberlin College removed me from coaching women’s lacrosse after I decided… pic.twitter.com/DnMt30ze6M
— Supervisory Committee (@GOPoversight) December 5, 2023
