Roanoke College in Virginia has female swimmers feeling betrayed after being forced to compete with a man, identifying as a woman, on their team. The transgender male was originally on the men’s team. Several of the women swimmers are calling on the NCAA, (the college and state lawmakers) to prevent men trans athletes from competing in women’s sports. They say it is about protecting the future of women’s sports and feel the NCAA is prioritizing transgender athletes. The swimmers want to change the policy and have athletes competing on teams based on the sex they were at birth. Captain of the Roanoke College swim team, Bailey Gallagher said, “It is my wish for women to have fair competition, to have their voices heard, and to be protected.”
Lily Mullens, team member said, “Many tears and the will to train to race a swimmer who has an advantage in the water that our bodies may never possess.” Riley Gaines, former student/swimmer at the University of Kentucky, who tied for 5th place with a transgender athlete Lia Thomas, joined the women. Gaines ended up without a trophy, even though she tied Thomas, official results listed Thomas as touching one hundredth of a second before Gaines. Ever since that happened to her, Gaines has been speaking out against transgender athletes participating and competing in women’s sports. “It shouldn’t have to take bravery and fair treatment to speak up for the fair treatment of women and girls, and if leaders cannot find it within themselves to do that then we need different leaders,” Gaines said.
Roanoke College released a statement after the conference saying their board has voted to officially adopt the NCAA policy when it comes to transgender athletes. Board President, Frank Shushok Jr. said, “We remain committed to supporting our LGBTQ+ community and student-athletes, all of whom are valued members of our vibrant community.” The NCAA’s transgender policy is currently a sport-by-sport approach. “Women’s sports are separate from men’s sports for a reason. We are not the same, but we both deserve to be equally respected,” swim team member Susanna Price said.
By - FZ
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