The athlete has also starred in a new calendar which aims to portray the “Most Beautiful Conservative Women In America”
BY CAMILLE BAVERA, IMAGE BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
American swimmer Riley Gaines has made headlines several times this week for comments she’s made about trans women. Known for her conservative values, she was featured in a calendar which was centred around portraying the “Most Beautiful Conservative Women In America”. She also made her opinion clear on a recent cycling match in Illinois which was won by two trans women.
A cycling match in Illinois went semi-viral when it was announced that the first and second-place winners, Tessa Johnson and Evelyn Williamson, identified as trans women. The third place prize went to Kristen Chalmers, a cis woman and terrific athlete who graciously conceded, and praised her competitors’ victory.
A statement issued jointly by cis-women in the competition (including Kristen), which was hosted by the Illinois State Cyclocross Championships, read: “We speak for ourselves. Inclusion makes our sport and community stronger. Everyone is welcome here. Transwomen are women.”
Riley Gaines responded to this statement and wrote to X (formerly known as Twitter) saying: “Women are the reason for their own erasure.”
In a statement to OutKick, Riley referred to Kristen as a “traitor” and said that “Chalmers may claim she’s fine losing to men but female athletes like her don’t have the right to willingly surrender the integrity of competition for everyone.”
While certain athletic associations have also barred trans women from entering certain sporting events, including the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) which requires competitors to have transitioned before puberty, USA Cycling allows trans participants in certain races like the Illinois competition.
Alongside these comments, Riley Gaines also starred in a new calendar commissioned by the Ultra Right Beer company. The company was started following the boycott of Bud Light beer for their campaign featuring Dylan Mulvaney.
Ten percent of calendar proceeds will be donated to the Riley Gaines Foundation, which exists to “protect women’s sports from leftist ideology”.
In a statement to Fox Business, the beer company CEO, Seth Weathers, said that “This calendar is in no way intended to discredit trans women […] because there is no such thing as a ‘transwoman’.”
DIVA magazine will celebrate 30 years in print in 2024. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQIA media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
