Sumner County's Riley Gaines talks about Texas protests over 'Save Women's Sports Act'

Sumner County resident Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky women’s swimmer turned advocate, said the reaction by those recently protesting a ceremonial bill signing in Texas "only ensures me I’m doing the right thing."

Gaines advocates against transgender woman athletes competing in female sports. In 2022, Gaines competed against Lia Thomas, a transgender woman who won an NCAA national women’s swimming championship in the 500-yard freestyle.

Gaines was in Texas on Monday for Gov. Greg Abbott's ceremonial signing of the Save Women’s Sports Act. Other political leaders and women’s sports advocates were also at the signing, according to a news release by the Texas governor’s office.

Gaines described intense opposition by those protesting the bill at the event in Texas, which has gained national attention. Abbott also tweeted that those protesting “tried to smear the celebration.”

“It should be eye-opening to everyone that the thought of protecting women’s sports, privacy and safety is immediately deemed as bigoted by the opposition,” said Gaines, a Station Camp High School graduate who hosts an OutKick podcast “Gaines For Girls.”

“You don’t waste ammunition on targets you don’t want to hit.”

The Save Women's Sports Act was challenged by multiple groups like Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) and Equality Texas who advocated against the bill as it moved forward in the legislative process.

“Another piece of an ongoing plot against trans folks able to live authentically in the public sphere,” TENT Communications Manager Sadie Hernandez said of the legislation.

“Trans people belong in sports—just like they belong in the arts, in tech, and in political office," Ricardo Martinez, CEO at Equality Texas said. "Trans people belong. Period."

The event took place at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. The Tennessean contacted the school's campus police department, which was aware of the event and protest, but the person contacted was not immediately aware of any arrests.

In February, Gaines was part of an event in conjunction with Brave Books at the Hendersonville Library that included Christian actor Kirk Cameron and Missy Robertson of "Duck Dynasty." The event led to the Sumner County Library Board voting to fire the library director because of reports on how Cameron and others were treated.

This spring, San Francisco State University investigated a report that Gaines was physically hit and forced to barricade at an event in April.

"The reaction we received was standard and expected," Gaines said of the Texas protest. "I've seen the same vitriol and hatefulness time and time again all across the country. They have the same signs, the same chants and have the same look for the most part."

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Riley Gaines on Texas protests over anti-transgender athlete bill