The problem of 'trans women' (a.k.a., men) competing in women's sports -- and invading women's private spaces -- continues to plague the athletic world. The good news is that more and more people are speaking out against it, including some very liberal public figures like Martina Navratilova and Bob Costas. And some places are starting to ban the practice entirely. Most recently, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in New York signed an executive order to bar all men and boys from sports designated exclusively for women or girls at any county facility.
There have been many heroes in this fight, but no one has been more prominent than former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines. Gaines has grown to national and international prominence for her efforts to protect women's sports and spaces. But despite all her work, many have said that the problem will never come to an end as long as some women agree -- even if reluctantly -- to continue to compete against men.
Well, Gaines has a proposed solution for that as well. Last December, she pledged to compensate any woman who simply refuses to participate in the farce by donating to them all of the prize money they may have lost out on.
Any woman who doesn't compete and loses out on prize money, I will happily pay the fee out of my own pocket. In any sport.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) December 5, 2023
Stop. Playing. Their. Game. https://t.co/S3kEVQTW7H
Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon was so impressed by Gaines' commitment to this cause that he also agreed to match her contribution.
I've discussed this with Riley and think this is an excellent way to embolden women to fight back. You don't have to give up your prize money when you stand up to men taking over your sports — in fact, you'll make even more because I'll match Riley's contribution, doubling it. https://t.co/bn19iUCOKN
— Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) December 5, 2023
This week, we found out that Gaines and Dillon were not just idly boasting about their pledges. When news came out of the European Pool Championships that billiards player Kim O'Brien had forfeited her spot in the championship finals because she would have been forced to compete against a man, Gaines and Dillon stepped up to the plate immediately.
Absolutely incredible.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) February 29, 2024
At the European Pool Championships, female player, Kim O'Brien, forfeited the women's final where she was set to play male player, Harriet Haynes.
I am happily paying her the prize money she lost out on. Stop playing their game. More of this!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/MAKH5KUm15
I'm matching this, as promised.
— Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) February 29, 2024
Real women: We are literally paying you to stop competing against men. You don't have to sacrifice your prize money to take back your sports. https://t.co/bjsNCoot9y
While it is not clear how much money would have come with a championship, it could be as much as $30,000 (which was the winner's share in 2022). It is also not clear whether, by forfeiting, O'Brien also gave up her earned finalist prize of $15,000. In any case, with Gaines' and Dillon's support, she is sure to take home more compensation through their generosity.
Gaines told Outkick about how unfair these competitions continue to be and why she is helping out any woman brave enough to say no.
'Last year, in this same European tournament, it was the exact same people in the finals, and he beat her 7-1,' Gaines said. 'I'd been following along since I heard about him last year. And actually at this tournament there were two males that were playing, meaning there were two men playing in the women's elite pro section where only 32 athletes are offered spots. It's the biggest achievement for any pool player to make it to this meet. Both males made it to the top 8. Another player, Lynn Pinches, gave up her spot because men were playing.'
'I'd publicly stated before that we need to incentivize not participating in the farce, in the madness of it. It's what I hear from athletes all the time, they don't want to lose sponsorship, they don't want to lose income. Their jobs and livelihoods depend on it. I understand that threat; what do you do if you have a family? How can we incentivize people for not playing? And that's by awarding them what they would be awarded.'
To add insult to injury, the male player, 'Harriet' Haynes (his real name is Chris) has spent the tournament bragging about how easy it was for him to win last year and how easy he expected it to be this year.
Newsflash: growing your hair out doesn't make you a woman.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) February 29, 2024
Refuse to compete and the madness ends. https://t.co/Tgr8m4GzsN pic.twitter.com/ePff9kFKC7
It's a humiliation ritual, nothing more. Women need to stop participating in it. Gaines and others are helping make it easier for them to do so.
Four women (that we know of) have walked away from women's category pool events so they wouldn't have to compete against Chris "Harriet" Haynes.
— Dr. Sydney Watson (@SydneyLWatson) February 29, 2024
Those women are Lynne Pinches, Jo Hobday and Ilda Machado. And now, Kim O'Brien.
More of this. https://t.co/c43pKedFGV
It’s time for women to stand up for themselves. 👏👏👏 https://t.co/Tm38BMmJDc
— Sarah Fields (@SarahisCensored) February 29, 2024
Some have wondered how much of a difference 'men vs. women' makes in the game of pool, but there IS a difference. Otherwise, there would not be separate divisions for the two sexes. When you consider the height and reach advantages that the average man has, those alone can make a huge difference in the game, as anyone who has played pool knows. And just take a look at how tall Haynes is in the clip Gaines posted above.
Kim O’Brien forfeited, and in doing so won for all women 🏆 https://t.co/F4dAAUh8Ew
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) February 29, 2024
Boycott the game, if it's against male participants pic.twitter.com/GfBAWZNqQd
— AMUSIC (@TRUMP4USD) February 29, 2024
That's an easy thing for many of us to say, especially for men (including me) who don't really have any skin in the game. It is a much more difficult thing for women to DO.
But with the help of Gaines, Dillon, and many other champions, such as Megyn Kelly and prominent female athletes like Navratilova, more women will find the courage to refuse.
And that, more than anything else, is how the insanity will end.
