Riley Gaines Leads Call for Prosecution Over Trans Athletes in Women’s Sports

Four months have passed since President Donald Trump signed the "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order, yet the battle over transgender athletes in female sports rages on. Despite the federal mandate, several Democrat-led states including California, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington have doubled down, sticking to their own laws that allow biological males to compete in girls’ and women’s sports. This defiance has sparked national controversies, with young female athletes often losing opportunities to competitors who dominate due to physical advantages.

The Trump administration isn’t sitting idle. Investigations are underway, lawsuits have been filed, and there’s even talk of prosecution. At a recent press conference, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt emphasized that violating federal law, including Title IX, could lead to serious consequences. Yet, states like Maine and California remain unmoved, refusing to bend to federal pressure.

Enter Riley Gaines, the former NCAA swimmer turned fierce advocate for women’s sports fairness. Gaines, who tied with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2022 NCAA championships, is leading the charge. She’s not mincing words, calling the current situation criminal and advocating for prosecution of officials who allow these policies to persist. "The idea that a man’s feelings trump our safety and rights is outrageous," Gaines declared, pointing fingers at university leaders like Georgia Tech’s president, Angel Cabrera, for failing to act.

Gaines isn’t alone. Fellow athletes Kaitlynn Wheeler and Kylee Alons, who also competed against Thomas, echo her sentiments. Wheeler argues that defying federal law and stripping girls of their rights under Title IX demands accountability, while Alons questions how anyone could ignore the harm being done. Their attorney, William Bock, goes further, insisting prosecution is not just warranted but necessary after months of clear warnings.

Trump’s order has had some impact—funding freezes at institutions like the University of Pennsylvania and policy shifts within the NCAA, which now states only females can compete in women’s categories. But critics, including Gaines, argue these measures lack teeth. The NCAA’s vague enforcement and lack of gender testing have drawn ire, especially after incidents like a transgender athlete competing in a Division III event at Ithaca College due to a supposed "misunderstanding."

Meanwhile, Gaines and her fellow plaintiffs are pushing forward with a lawsuit against the NCAA, seeking not just policy change but monetary damages for the hundreds of female athletes affected. As Wheeler puts it, the executive order is a start, but it’s not enough. The fight for enforceable protections continues, with these activists demanding action over empty promises.