Riley Gaines wasn't pleased with NCAA president Charlie Baker’s viewpoints on transgenders in women’s sports during Tuesday’s U.S. Senate Judiciary hearing.
Baker stepped onto the Senate floor with the intention of discussing new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies for college sports. However, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) turned the conversation towards Baker’s beliefs on transgenders in women’s sports and specifically used Gaines’ story in his questions.
Gaines’ experience racing against trans swimmer Lia Thomas began in 2022 when Baker was still governor of Massachusetts. Instead of firmly stating his position on whether or not men and women should share bathrooms with or compete against each other, he danced around the issue and gave a PR-esque response.
"I wasn't there. I was still governor of the commonwealth,” he said. “What I will say is, we have very specific rules and standards around the safety and security of all our student athletes, and anyone who hosts one of our national championships has to accept that they know what they are and then abide by them accordingly. I don't believe that policy would be the policy we would use today.”
Senator Hawley asking NCAA President the questions that deserve to be answered.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) October 17, 2023
NCAA President Charlie Baker claims he doesn't defend the mistreatment of female swimmers at the 2022 NCAA championships and would opt to change locker room policies moving forward. pic.twitter.com/HGiFOg5N2J
So what policy would you use today, President Baker?
“I can state pretty clearly that no one's going to get forced into any sort of situation that's going to make them uncomfortable,” Baker explained. “We make that very clear in the guidance that we give to anybody who hosts one of our championships, period.”
"I can tell you that the standards with respect to participation for trans athletes in women's sports have been adjusted since then and continue to be adjusted based on conversation with other governing bodies,” he added.
Related: 'It's Obvious:' Gronk Stands Firm On Transgenders In Women's Sports Stance
While that might sound like an acceptable response, Gaines wasn’t fooled and said the policies in place don’t protect women’s sports.
“Let me be clear, the guidelines he mentioned in this week's Senate Judiciary hearing are no less harmful to women, no less discriminatory to women than those in 2022,” Gaines said. “Without single sex competition, there can be no equal athletic opportunity.”
Gaines also mentioned that she sent a letter to Baker in the hopes of talking about a way to protect women’s sports in the future. The letter was sent on January 5, 2023, and ten months later, that meeting still hasn’t happened.
"(In the letter) I explained why it’s crucial to understand the scientific evidence that shows the impossibility of leveling the collegiate playing field through hormone therapyI asked for an opportunity to meet face-to-face and sit down with him to better explain my (and so many other female athletes’) perspective and to work together to create a solution that would provide everyone a place where they can play fairly and safely,” Gaines said. “TEN months have passed since I sent this letter. Unfortunately, as with former NCAA President Mark Emmert, I’ve yet to receive a reply."
Based on that, and his wishy-washy response in the meeting, it looks like Baker has some commitment issues on this topic. That could spell trouble for more biological females in the NCAA.
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