Riley Gaines, one of the activists assaulted by protesters during a bill signing in Texas.
Swimmer and Activist Riley Gaines Attacked After Bill Signing
Swimmer and activist Riley Gaines was among a group of women who faced a terrifying ordeal on Monday. They were attacked following the signing of a bill that bans transgender athletes from competing on collegiate women’s sports teams in Texas.
Gaines had attended the bill signing ceremony, which took place at the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in Denton. However, outside the venue, a large group of protesters gathered to voice their opposition to the legislation. Michelle Evans, a leader of the Independent Women’s Network’s Austin chapter, estimated that around 250 protesters were present.
“As I was walking through Texas Woman’s University after the #SB15 signing I was physically assaulted — including being spit on in the eye — by the kindness and inclusion crowd,” Evans wrote on X.
Macy Patty, another athlete who was present at the signing, shared her experience on X, stating that the protesters were “extremely hostile and spitting on people.” She expressed concern for the safety of herself, Gaines, and the other women, and requested prayers for the protesters to “find hope in Jesus Christ.”
Paula Scanlan, also an athlete, reassured her followers on X that she was able to leave the event safely. She acknowledged the name-calling by the protesters but emphasized that they had achieved a victory for women’s sports in Texas.
“Our work is not finished, and I hope other states will follow in the footsteps of Texas,” Scanlan wrote.
The bill, known as S.B. 15 or the Save Women’s Sports Act, will officially take effect next month. Although it was signed into law in June, the signing ceremony on Monday was symbolic.
“Women have thrived under college sports,” Abbott wrote on X. “They’ve mastered discipline, spurred drive, & cast visions to achieve greatness. We won’t allow that to be jeopardized in Texas.”
Texas becomes the fifth state this year to implement a policy banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports at the collegiate level. A similar policy was enacted at the high school level in 2021.
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