.jpeg)
On Thursday, Riley Gaines, an outspoken critic of transgender athletes being permitted to compete in divisions they self-identify with, was violently assaulted at San Francisco State University following a speech she made on behalf of Save Women’s Sports, an organization that aims to bar trans women from competing in women’s sports and create a new division for where trans athletes would be allowed to compete. This organization has been labeled as anti-trans by some.
Gaines, who is a former Division 1 college swimmer and a spokesperson for the Independent Women’s Forum, was reportedly verbally and physically attacked following her speech. She was barricaded in a room at San Francisco State University for nearly three hours after the incident for her own safety.
Louis Barker, Gaines' husband, said that he had brief conversations with her during the three hours she was barricaded in the room. He said that she was hit multiple times by a man wearing a dress, which made him very angry and sick to feel so helpless about it. He added that she was under police protection at the time of the assault.
The incident comes amidst rising tension in the U.S. around trans rights and whether or not trans female athletes should be able to compete in the women’s division. Turning Point USA and Leadership Institute had invited Gaines to speak at an event on the SFSU campus exploring women’s athletics and the inequalities that female competitors could face against transgender opponents.
Footage of the campus chaos was shared by Gaines on Twitter, showing trans activists berating her as security tried to escort her to safety. She wrote in a tweet, “The prisoners are running the asylum at SFSU…I was ambushed and physically hit twice by a man. This is proof that women need sex-protected spaces. Still only further assures me I’m doing something right. When they want you silent, speak louder.”
The Independent Women's Forum has issued a statement condemning what it called an “assault” on Gaines, and it is important that the perpetrators are held accountable for their actions. It is concerning to hear about any form of violence and assault, and it is important that everyone feels safe to express their views and opinions without fear of physical harm.
