Swimmer Riley Gaines Says Megan Rapinoe Is “Virtue Signaling” Over Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act

Riley Gaines, a former NCAA star swimmer at Kentucky, has criticized US soccer star Megan Rapinoe for what she called “virtue signaling.” Earlier this year, Rapinoe and other athletes spoke out against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Gaines was responding to a tweet from Rapinoe, which read: “Today, politicians in DC are claiming to ‘protect women’s sports’ by pushing a trans & intersex sports ban. Call your Congressional rep today to say women’s sports need protection from unequal pay, sexual abuse & lack of resources, NOT from trans kids.”

Gaines claims that Rapinoe’s sexuality and lack of a daughter mean that she has nothing to lose by opposing the act. Gaines deleted her tweets, but they sparked a wider conversation about gender equity in sports.

Athlete Ally, a group that supports LGBTQ+ initiatives, sent a letter to lawmakers opposing the bill. Signatories argue that it “wouldn’t protect women in sports but would exclude women and girls from getting mental and physical health benefits.”

The Biden administration’s proposal to prevent bans on transgender athletes has also drawn scrutiny, as it poses a challenge to Title IX rules. Rep. Greg Steube introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in 2022 to define sex solely by a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.

There is a growing debate around how to guarantee gender equity in athletics, which may impact future legislation and changes to Title IX.

Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in February. The bill seeks an amendment to Title IX “to provide that for purposes of determining compliance with Title IX of such Act in athletics, sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”