As my colleague Jeff Charles reported, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down West Virginia's "Save Women's Sports" law, saying it violated transgender student Becky Pepper-Jackson's right to compete with the school's women's track and field team.
Becky has sued West Virginia for banning trans student athletes.
— ACLU (@ACLU) July 3, 2021
“I know how hurtful a law like this is to all kids like me who just want to play sports with their classmates, and I’m doing this for them. Trans kids deserve better.” pic.twitter.com/kl12k5ruta
The ACLU brought the original suit in 2021 on behalf of Pepper-Jackson, and they are celebrating it as a victory. Former collegiate competitive swimmer and activist Riley Gaines took to X to speak out against the ruling and excoriate the ACLU.
Hey @ACLU, the girls don't want this. All of these messages are from West Virginia athletes who have had to compete against this boy.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 16, 2024
History will not look kindly on the ACLU or anyone who clearly sends a message to girls that their rights don't matter. https://t.co/IVO5dM6DRe pic.twitter.com/azulfkaiau
The texts from the young female athletes expressed their fear, disappointment, outrage, and anger over this violation of their rights and safety. One athlete texted Gaines with this proposed call to action.
"So far I have gotten 4 or 8 throwers willing to step out Thursday. I know that 2 of them are not going to step out so I have to ask the other 2 when I see them. The plan is to just step in and step out. If we get kicked off the team or suspended or anything like that, I will let you know... that's where social media will come in to play!!!"
The young athlete held to her word. On Thursday, at a competitive meet with Pepper-Jackson present, five of the female athletes did just that. They stepped up and then stepped out in protest of their rights being violated on the altar of progressive ideology.
🚨🚨FIVE middle school female athletes in West Virginia refuse to throw shot put against male, Becky Pepper-Jackson.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 19, 2024
This comes just 2 days after the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the WV law that says you must compete in the category that matches your sex.
It's a… pic.twitter.com/RzMgh4jVRU
Bridgeport participated in the 2024 Harrison County Middle School Championships on Thursday afternoon at Liberty High School in Clarksburg, West Virginia.
Seven schools comprised the meet: Bridgeport, Heritage Christian, Notre Dame, South Harrison, Lincoln, Mountaineer (Clarksburg) and Washington Irving.
Several members of one of the girls' shot put teams "stepped in" then "stepped out" to protest the inclusion of a transgender athlete in the meet. The transgender athlete competes in both shot put and discus throwing.
When each of the Lincoln girls had her name called to compete, she stepped into the ring but instead of throwing the shot, she stepped down and refused to participate. They did the same for the discus event.
The power of unity and the power of social media. These girls understood that their actions would reverberate and potentially go viral. They also understood their actions will encourage other young female athletes to take a stand. Sadly, no matter what legislative measures are being taken, these athletes realize that no one is going to save their ability to play on a fair and equitable field but themselves. They must rise up.
Riley Gaines, host of the Gaines for Girls podcast on OutKick, shared her thoughts on the girls refusing to compete against a transgender opponent.
"It's a sad day when the middle school girls have to be the adults in the room. Conceding your event is so much easier said than done, but these girls have the tenacity and ability to stand their ground," Gaines said.
"I couldn't be more proud of their bravery and willingness to show their raw emotion. Girls and women have had enough."
Gaines is also an Independent Women's Forum ambassador and has assisted the organization in leading the charge against the Biden administration's bastardization of Title IX. Along with former Oberlin College head women’s lacrosse coach Kim Russell, Gaines testified before Congress in December 2023. In January 2024, Gaines led a protest in Phoenix against the NCAA over its transgender policy. Despite the pushback by transgender activists and their willing partners at the ACLU and Southern Poverty Law Center, states across the country are moving their legislatures to enact laws preserving women's sports for biological females only, barring biological males from competing. Alaska is the most recent to enter the fray. As my colleague Ward Clark wrote, the Alaska House of Representatives held hearings on House Bill 183, which is:
intended to ensure that only girls compete in Alaska girls' sports teams. The bill will ensure that Alaska school athletes will play only on the teams that correspond to the sex on their birth certificates. Alaska, at present, does not allow changing sex on birth certificates, nor is a designation of "X" allowed, as is the case in some other states.
The hearings were held on March 25, and Gaines gave her testimony the week prior before the AK House education committee. Back in 2022, Gaines essentially stood alone. Not anymore. Finally the tide is turning and it is being led by the young female athletes who are not being heard, not being protected, and are being robbed of the opportunities that were once afforded them under Title IX.
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