3 key moments from Riley Gaines' testimony at Senate hearing on trans rights
Biological Sex
At one point during the hearing, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., questioned President Kelley Robinson of the LGBT activist group Human Rights Campaign about whether she believed men had certain biological advantages over women, particularly when it comes to sports.
Robinson declined to answer, stating that she was not a physician. Kennedy questioned her again about whether men possessed a physical advantage over women, and Robinson insisted that she could not provide a “definitive statement.”
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The HRC president cited professional tennis player Serena Williams as an example, saying how she had seen a news article about men claiming they could score a point against the female athlete.
“And it’s just not the case,” Robinson said. “She is stronger than them.”
Kennedy asked Gaines the same question, and the former NCAA swimmer pointed out that both Serena Williams and her sister, Venus Williams, lost to Karsten Braasch, an athlete ranked 203rd in the men’s circuit. The game, which took place in 1998, ended with Braasch beating Serena 6-1 and Venus 6-2.
“My experience, my husband, he swam at the University of Kentucky as well,” Gaines said. “In terms of accolades, in terms of national ranking, I was a much better swimmer than him. He could kick my butt any day of the week — without trying.”
Robinson defended her position by stating that she meant men do not have a “definitive advantage” over women in all cases. She concluded that the matter was irrelevant and what matters is that “trans women” play on their desired sports team.
Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman
