Riley Gaines was hosted by West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey on Wednesday, when he signed the Riley Gaines Act, which codifies definitions of “man” and “woman” into state law.
According to the measure’s text, it “reaffirms longstanding meaning[s]” of sex, male and female in state law, and preserves women’s restrooms, sleeping quarters, locker rooms, and other private facilities for the sole use of women to prevent “abuse, harassment, sexual assault, and violence committed by men.”
A similar law has already been signed into law in Georgia, focusing specifically on sports, as Gaines has quickly risen to the status of conservative political icon in the three years since her infamous tie with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2022 NCAA women’s swimming championships.
For Gaines, having state legislation named after her to help prevent similar incidents from happening to other female athletes is “an honor.”
“There’s no bigger honor than having your name attached to something as foundational and significant as the defense of women’s rights and biological reality,” Gaines said during a press conference.
“The Riley Gaines Act simply defines sex-based terms such as man and woman in state statute to prevent unelected bureaucrats from reinterpreting them to mean whatever they want. The majority of Americans understand what a woman is, and it’s time our laws did as well.”
Gaines’ movement to protect women from trans athletes has grown into a nationwide movement with its own merchandising industry, and it has even become one of the most significant political wildcards in 2024.
On February 5, Gaines attended a White House ceremony where President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports.
Despite the executive order and the fact that 27 states have passed laws to combat trans athlete inclusion, Gaines believes there is still work to be done to address the issue.
“Despite President Trump’s return to the White House, the war on woke has not yet been won. “There’s more work to be done, but leaders like President Trump and Governor Morrisey have paved the way,” Gaines told the crowd.
Several states, including California, Maine, Minnesota, and Massachusetts, have continued to allow transgender athletes to compete alongside females. The United States Senate recently failed to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act due to a filibuster by the Democratic minority.
Gaines has vowed to help unseat all 45 Democratic senators who voted against the bill, and she has not ruled out running for office herself in the future.
“It’s never what I saw myself doing,” Gaines previously told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.
“But now, of course, with this issue and others, I would argue the entire America-first agenda. I’m just so passionate, I care so much, and I love it, so we’ll see. It is certainly not something I would rule out.
I don’t think I’m that crazy yet, because I believe you’d have to be clinically insane to do that voluntarily. But I believe that eventually I will be able to influence policy in that way.”
