Transgender activists yelled profanities at children, threw bottles, and spat on some of the people gathered in support of girls-only spaces and sports at a bill signing in Texas, Division 1 swimmer-turned-activist Riley Gaines told The Daily Wire.
Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott invited Gaines, her former teammate Paula Scanlan, and others to the ceremonial signing of Senate Bill 15, dubbed the “Save Women’s Sports Act.” The bill was signed into law in June and is set to take effect on September 1.
“To no one’s surprise we were met with protesters,” Gaines told The Daily Wire. “And to no one’s surprise, these protesters were some of the most vengeful, hateful, soulless individuals. They were yelling profanities at children, they were throwing bottles and pouring drinks, and spitting on people.”
“Racist, sexist, anti-trans, you have blood on your hands”
Simply female athletes asking for our own spaces. pic.twitter.com/FtYjg8XI4Z
— Macy Petty (@macypetty0416) August 7, 2023
“There are pockets of these protesters who are doing everything in their power to dissuade us from our argument, but they can’t do it with truth, they can’t do it with science, they can’t do it with logic, or reasoning, or, quite frankly, common sense,” Gaines said. “And that’s why they resort to name-calling. That’s why they resort to spitting.”
“This does not deter us — this is actually almost encouraging,” she continued. “We are doing the right thing. And this treatment, while it’s unfortunate, it encourages me to continue on and to continue pushing this in all 50 states.”
Video from the event shows young girls being yelled at by protesters supporting transgender policies. There were reportedly hundreds of protesters gathered.
“Girls, as young as 5, were harassed & called vulgar names, all for joining the celebration of protecting equal athletic opportunity,” Independent Women’s Voice captioned the footage.
DISGUSTING: Protestors targeted young girls outside of the signing of the #SaveWomensSports Act in Texas.
Girls, as young as 5, were harassed & called vulgar names, all for joining the celebration of protecting equal athletic opportunity. pic.twitter.com/QdPFpThq6L
— Independent Women's Voice (@IWV) August 7, 2023
Independent Women’s Network’s Austin chapter leader Michelle Evans described the crowd to protesters as “rabid,” according to Fox News.
“When I turned around to go back inside of the building, that’s when somebody threw water on me,” Evans said. “Somebody told me they ‘know where I f***ing live.’ There was somebody that got in front of me to try to physically block me from going back inside and pushed her body up against mine. Somebody hit my arm, and then someone — a woman in a pink ski mask and sunglasses — spit into my open eye.”
Scanlan, who also attended the event, captioned video of protesters, “What about women’s rights? Are women’s rights not human rights?”
Scanlan was on the University of Pennsylvania swim team with Lia Thomas, a biological male athlete who previously swam on the men’s team before identifying as a woman. Back in June, Scanlan came forward to detail her experience with Thomas during an interview with Daily Wire host Matt Walsh Show.
What about women’s rights? Are women’s rights not human rights? pic.twitter.com/54zzS9lxPa
— Paula Scanlan (@PaulaYScanlan) August 7, 2023
Gaines told The Daily Wire the “Save Woman’s Sports Act” protects girls and women at “all levels” in Texas, “meaning, you compete with your biological sex.”
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“This was great. It felt like a cumulation of hard work had finally paid off,” she continued. “I had been to the state of Texas several times to testify. I have worked with lawmakers on both sides in the state to help them understand why this is important, as well as ways to effectively communicate this message. So we were super excited.”