Riley Gaines Supports Montana Bill Protecting Female Spaces
"Marginalization and erasure of women"
Women’s rights advocate Riley Gaines testified in support of Montana’s House Bill (HB) 121, which keeps women safe from biological males entering their restrooms, changing rooms and sleeping quarters.
“Every single day, I learn of more women and girls who have fallen victim to the extreme agenda to erase women. It has gone too far, and Montana women should not have to imagine a society where sex-based protections don’t exist,” Gaines said on Friday, January 10.
As The Montana Chronicles previously reported, HB 121 says that women should be “afforded privacy and safety from acts of abuse, harassment, sexual assault, and violence committed by men.”
“An individual may not enter a restroom, changing room, or sleeping quarters that is designated for females or males unless the individual is a member of the designated sex,” the bill proposal says.
Also, the bill defines men as having XY chromosomes and women as having XX chromosomes.
This bill filing allows individuals using a restroom or changing room designated for their sex to file a civil lawsuit if they encounter someone of the opposite sex in that space.
An individual could sue the person using the wrong bathroom and anyone who did not stop the person from entering the wrong space.
“Without proper protections across the nation, that persistently undermine women’s equality and safety will lead to the marginalization and erasure of women,” Gaines said.
Gaines recounted her story as an accomplished swimmer at the University of Kentucky, where she was a 12-time All-American.
“I am here today as a former collegiate athlete and advocate for women standing firmly against the erasure of women from our own domain,” she said.
Gaines detailed how, as a senior at the University of Kentucky, she competed against a man named Lia Thomas, who identified as a transgender female. Lia Thomas’ real name is Will Thomas.
“Thomas unsurprisingly went from being ranked in the 400s and 500s nationally in his rightful category to winning a national title in the women’s category,” she said.
Gaines added that in addition to losing competitions, scholarships and roster spots, female competitors “were forced to share a locker room” and “change” in front of Lia Thomas.
“We were not forewarned. We were not asked for our consent and we did not give our consent to this exposure and simultaneously our own exploitation,” she said.
“So rather than sitting ideally by, I implore you to take the horrible assault on women seriously to stand up to take action to protect women’s privacy, safety and opportunities by implementing HB 121 in your state,” the women’s rights advocate added.
On the other hand, Missoula City Council Member Kristen Jordan told the Judiciary Committee that HB 121 was “inhumane, unethical and costly to enforce and a distraction from the real issues affecting Montanas.”
“HB 121 targets and marginalizes transgender non-binary individuals violating their rights to privacy and dignity by assuming they are all dangerous and threatening. This legislation undermines the values of privacy and safety already enshrined in Montana's Constitution.”
Viridian Miller, who is a trans woman who lives in Missoula, said at the hearing that if this bill is enacted, she would “experience unspeakable harm.”
“I’m a trans woman, but I don’t always subscribe to a lot of the patriarchal norms for femininity,” said Miller.
The House Judiciary Committee did not vote on the bill.
- - -
Zachery Schmidt is the founder of The Montana Chronicles. If you have any tips, please send them to montanachronicles@proton.me.