A U.S. district court in Kentucky on Monday halted the implementation of President Biden’s new Title IX protections for transgender individuals in six states: Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia, and West Virginia.
OutKick contributor Riley Gaines said this ruling is a “huge win for humanity.” This is not just a victory for women and girls but also an objective truth. Gaines began fighting for fairness in women’s sports after transgender swimmer Lia Thomas won a Division I title in 2022. She has been more hopeful these past few weeks than she has been at any point over the last two years that she has so unapologetically taken this stand.
Gaines relived the “traumatizing” experience of not only racing against Thomas but being naked beside her in the locker room. It felt like betrayal, an utter violation, and truly it was traumatizing. A 6-foot-4 man fully naked, fully intact, and inches away from where they were fully undressed.
But what’s even more disturbing is that Gaines knew just how easy it was for those people who created and enforced these policies to totally dismiss their rights to privacy without even a second thought or bare minimum forewarning. That’s the message President Biden is sending to young girls like herself.
A federal judge blocked Biden’s Title IX rule in Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, and Idaho last week. The New Hampshire senate passed a bill that would bar transgender athletes in grades 5-12 from competing against the gender they identify with. This ruling comes as many states are considering similar legislation.
This is not just about sports; it’s about fairness, privacy, and basic human decency. It’s time for policymakers to take action and ensure that all students have a safe and equal environment to compete in.