Light Wave

Politics

Riley Gaines Blasts AOC’s Genital Exams Claim As ‘Fearmongering’

By CM Chaney · December 7, 2023

In brief…

  • Riley Gaines rejected AOC's claim that banning trans athletes from women's sports would lead to genital exams of underage girls.
  • Appearing on a podcast, Gaines called AOC's assertions at a congressional hearing "fearmongering" and "uninformed."
  • Gaines stated that routine physicals, not genital inspections, are used to determine eligibility for women's sports.
  • At the hearing, Gaines fired back after Rep. Summer Lee labeled her testimony "transphobic," accusing Lee of misogyny.
Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines dismissed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's claim that barring biological males from women's sports would result in genital exams of underage girls as "fearmongering" and factually wrong, sparking an intense exchange after Rep. Summer Lee labeled Gaines' testimony "transphobic."  nrkbeta / Wikimedia

Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines is pushing back against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s controversial claim that barring biological males from women’s sports would lead to widespread “genital examinations” of underage girls.

Appearing on “OutKick the Morning with Charly Arnolt,” Gaines called Ocasio-Cortez’s assertions at a House hearing “entirely fearmongering” and “absolutely uninformed.”

“It’s not the case for any state. She was referring to [the] state legislature and that’s the process states are going to go through to determine who is male and female is they’re going to ‘inspect your genitals.’ No, it’s called a routine physical,” Gaines said. “It’s something that every athlete, including myself my entire life, has to go through.”

She further stated that “the people who had their genitals inspected were the females in that locker room who had a man in that locker room. But that doesn’t matter to AOC or…any of the Democratic members in the U.S. House and the Senate or the Biden administration.”

At Tuesday’s House hearing featuring Gaines, Ocasio-Cortez had claimed that proposals to restrict transgender participation in women’s sports would lead to genital exams, saying “We are talking about opening up all women and girls to genital examinations when they are underage, potentially just because someone can point to someone and say, ‘I don’t think you are a girl.’”

Gaines reported that states actually check birth certificates or use genetic tests, not genital inspections, to determine eligibility for women’s sports.

The hearing also included a fiery exchange after Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) labeled Gaines’ testimony as “transphobic.”

Gaines strongly objected, stating “There’s a place for everybody to play sports in this country. But unsafe, unfair and discriminatory practices must stop.” She further accused Lee of misogyny, saying “if my testimony makes me ‘transphobic,’ then I believe your opening monologue makes you a misogynist.”

The dispute underscores the heated debate around allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. Advocates argue it threatens fair competition, while critics dismiss such concerns as bigoted. Gaines made clear she felt Ocasio-Cortez’s genital exam claims crossed a line by spreading misinformation.