As she continues to fight for fairness in women’s sports, OutKick host Riley Gaines is over the moon about President Donald Trump’s executive order banning trans women from competing in women’s sports — which she witnessed him sign in person. However, the former college athlete feels more needs to be done at the state and federal levels.
Barrett Media caught up with the host of Outkick’s Gaines for Girls podcast on what needs to come next to protect girls and women’s sports.
Krystina Carroll: What was it like being there, as President Trump signed the executive order to keep biological men out of women’s sports?
Riley Gaines: It was an experience that, number one, I can’t believe it happened. I cannot believe that a sitting U.S. President has to take executive action and time out of his day to declare men and women are different. He did that in an executive order a few weeks prior, and then to further declare that men cannot participate in women’s sports.
It is wild to me that the moral decay that we have suffered from as a society at the hands of the previous administration, but nonetheless it was an experience that, of course, I am so grateful for. I feel totally vindicated fighting really an uphill battle, [personally] the past three years. There’s also recognizing there are women, and I mean people who have fought much longer and harder than I have.
We fought the past three years. We, as women, were just ignored. Because we didn’t have a seat at the table, and then to be there in that visual with President Trump, surrounded by all of those young girls, girls who were wearing their uniforms and their sports bow that they probably wear on the soccer field. It was, I think, one of the most iconic visuals that could possibly come out of his administration.
KC: Does this executive order go far enough for you? If not, what would you like to see done?
RG: The executive order is beautifully and thoroughly written, but the problem with this executive order, or with any executive order, is that it does not absolve the states from doing what they need to do [meaning pass legislation at the state level] and it certainly does not codify it into law. Just as easy as this executive order was implemented, it can also be taken away, God forbid.
We need to see states passing this. About 25 states have passed some sort of fairness in women’s sports law at this point. We need to see more. Which there’s lots on the docket this year to help get that done, through, and onto a Governor’s desk to sign into law. We need this to pass through both legislative chambers, federally. It’s passed the U.S. House with bipartisan support, given two Democrats voted in favor of The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, but it has not yet been heard on the Senate floor.
I would love for this to be a priority of Senate Majority Leader (John) Thune (R-SD). Put this on the floor and — being totally transparent with you, it’s not likely it will pass. Actually, I would be incredibly surprised if it did pass, but nonetheless, we need to put these senators in particular on the record. They, strategically under Senator (Chuck) Schumer’s (D-NY) leadership last year, they didn’t have to vote on this bill, but it is a perfect, perfect indicator. Do our elected leaders stand with women, or do they not? This bill, and how they vote on it would tell you everything you need to know.
Therefore I would love to see this be heard on the Senate floor. That being, said, the NCAA policy that came out following the executive order is incredibly weak. Horrible, actually, policy. It does not comply with federal law. So there’s still work to be done, as it pertains to the NCAA. Making sure this executive order is enforced, and they don’t have unelected bureaucrats going through the back door and interpreting these words to mean what they want them to mean, based on the NCAA’s current policy.
KC: There are still those who believe who don’t believe in your mission. What is your message to them especially those who openly and publicly criticize and harass you?
RG: Harassment is probably putting it kindly. The opposition that myself and other people who stand for women, who stand for common sense, who stand for biological reality have faced. But the message I want to send to those who oppose, whether it’s me personally or the stance that I’ve taken, to be very clear, the stand that I’ve taken is not one that is against anybody. It’s not one that is against anything, any group of people. It is a stand that is for something. I am standing for privacy and areas of undressing, I am standing for safety in sports, and I am standing for equal opportunity, as was enshrined by Title IX in 1972. So coming up on 53 years now.
I’m super optimistic to see just how, in really a short amount of time, in the grand scheme of things, just in how you know two, three years, how this narrative, and how the conversation has shifted. Two years ago, there was not a lot of public support for saying men and women are different.
Now I would say, it’s done a total 180. The overwhelming percentage of the majority, or of the general public, agree that men cannot become women, that tampons do not belong in boys bathrooms, that men should not be playing in women’s sports. With the shift in public opinion, of course, I mean the political landscape, I imagine it will change, I believe. What we’ve seen so far is really these elected officials, Democrats, doubling down.
We’ve seen it from how our elected representatives are voting, to how the media represents this issue. But again, it’s just not representative of society at large. Even amongst the Democratic Party, the majority of the Democratic Party doesn’t agree with this. Knowing that is certainly reassuring. But even if it wasn’t the case, I would still feel totally secure saying what I’m saying, fighting for what I’m fighting for, because again, it’s based on objective truth. As a Christian, it’s [also] based in biblical truth, as well.
KC: Are there other protections that need to be women made for women in education or in the workforce?
RG: Of course there are. This issue of men invading women’s spaces, it’s not the only issue that is negatively impacting women and the list is growing. I can speak to this as an athlete, too. Even specific to what female athletes face in sports, the sexual assault and harassment that female athletes face is certainly still a big problem.
Think of people like Larry Nassar. I had a coach in college, actually two coaches, who were fired for sexual misconduct among the women’s team. So absolutely, there are still issues that women face. But being able to define what a woman is is what I would say is the first step in being able to defend women at large. Because, I mean, if you can’t define it, you can’t defend it.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Krystina Alarcon Carroll is a news media columnist and features writer for Barrett Media. She has experience in almost every facet of the industry including: digital and print news; live, streamed, and syndicated TV; documentary and film productions. Her prior employers have included NY1 and Fox News Digital and the Law & Crime Network. You can find Krystina on X (formerly twitter) @KrystinaAlaCarr.
