Simone Biles attacks Riley Gaines

[ItsCoolForCats]

Simone Biles has come out in defence of males in women's sports, and has attacked Riley Gaines for fighting against it. She said on Twitter:

"@RileyGaines
You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!! But instead… You bully them… One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!"

So, so disappointing. Both my daughters do gymnastics and are huge SB fans, so it is awful for her to show such contempt towards RG, who is fighting for a level playing field for women and girls in sport. And to suggest a separate category as if nobody has ever thought of that and tried it 🤦🏻‍♀️

I really don't see what your issue was initially, based on what you are saying now.

You accept there is a range of views that are pro-woman, you understand how someone can reasonably disagree about what people might consider feminist talking points.

So what is the issue if she takes a differernt view on abortion, or has a differernt perspective on same sex marriage, or whatever it is she thinks? She seems like a person who thinks about her views and cares about what happens to women.

Biles could have won by not body shaming RG. and discussing the points that she was making about third spaces for trans people.

But then the trans lobby would still have hated her and they seem to be the ones that she wants to make nice too.

Riley Gaines responds:

https://x.com/Outkick/status/1931526182962377157

She's absolutely spot on about all of that.

And I don't care that she supports Trump or that she shares a platform with some pretty nasty people, because I am only commenting on what she is saying in this video.

She always comes across as intelligent,considered, reasonable and nothing but clear about protecting the dignity and sex based rights of women and girls.

That's a goddamn good point about Nassar and if he was to come out as trans.

It is, which is why it was met with outrage that she dared to raise it.

He wouldn't be the first predator to come out as trans to try and weasel some sympathy and leniency in court proceedings or their sentence. The fact it's happened before is why it's such a bang on point. They can outrage as much as they like, they know she's right!

Yep.

Quite a few of SB's supporters say how mean it was for RG to 'pick on' kids (ie the state high school with a boy on their team). For example: "The comments are off because people like you bully kids until they end up killing themselves".

This is one of the most wicked things about this men's rights movement; it persuades vulnerable young people that they are not their actual sex, encourages them onto life-altering hormones and surgery and then uses them as a shield against any sane objections.

Maybe this is why gender critical women are found across the spectrum of social and political opinion and many are not really that concerned about the nuance of exactly how right-wing or left-wing an ally might be. This issue is not some dry intellectual discussion on the meaning of feminism; it is an assault on children of the sort that will shame us for generations to come.

Naturally, there's no mention of the female 'kids' affected.

I agree that the assault on children makes it extremely urgent. I have multiple times from the start said that I suppport & respect Gaines' fight for women athletes, and I support GC alliances w her

It's simply that I think we should be aware of the way that in the US groups are in the ascendant that see trans issues as only one of the things they oppose. Eg. Abortion rights, lesbian rights, sometimes contraception. This doesn't mean that I'm saying we shouldn't ally w them, I'm simply saying we should be aware of this.

I appreciate the GC argument that children & women are in direct danger, and that trans affects all other issues : eg. A woman who'd had an abortion might be confronted w a trans counsellor, lesbians being harassed w the cotton ceiling stuff. I agree that trans I the priority rn. But I still think we should not take our eye of other issues completely.

This comment isn't so much about Gaines as a general one, as I've said we actually only really know her attitude to abortion, and of course she is perfectly entitled to only focus on one issue publicly, in fact she probably rightly sees this as an effective tactic.

It's worth noting that we are not in the trenches anymore. I very much doubt that the Americans will ever vote for a brainwashed TRA supporter as President. In the UK, we have a ban on puberty blockers & a Supreme Court ruling. I understand after the years of being told there was nothing to worry about & then being abused in the horrible fight, people here are still v worried. But I think that the GC issue has probably been won as far as politics goes., and I don't think all other issues should be ignored until it is completely gone, bc that will take years as the ideology is embedded. The community is a different matter- see parents taking 'trans kids' to New Zealand etc for treatment, as NBC has reported.

I agree that the assault on children makes it extremely urgent. I have multiple times from the start said that I suppport & respect Gaines' fight for women athletes, and I support GC alliances w her

It's simply that I think we should be aware of the way that in the US groups are in the ascendant that see trans issues as only one of the things they oppose. Eg. Abortion rights, lesbian rights, sometimes contraception. This doesn't mean that I'm saying we shouldn't ally w them, I'm simply saying we should be aware of this.

I appreciate the GC argument that children & women are in direct danger, and that trans affects all other issues : eg. A woman who'd had an abortion might be confronted w a trans counsellor, lesbians being harassed w the cotton ceiling stuff. I agree that trans I the priority rn. But I still think we should not take our eye of other issues completely.

This comment isn't so much about Gaines as a general one, as I've said we actually only really know her attitude to abortion, and of course she is perfectly entitled to only focus on one issue publicly, in fact she probably rightly sees this as an effective tactic.

It's worth noting that we are not in the trenches anymore. I very much doubt that the Americans will ever vote for a brainwashed TRA supporter as President. In the UK, we have a ban on puberty blockers & a Supreme Court ruling. I understand after the years of being told there was nothing to worry about & then being abused in the horrible fight, people here are still v worried. But I think that the GC issue has probably been won as far as politics goes., and I don't think all other issues should be ignored until it is completely gone, bc that will take years as the ideology is embedded. The community is a different matter- see parents taking 'trans kids' to New Zealand etc for treatment, as NBC has reported.

OK I'll bite.

@AliasGrace47 You said, in an earlier post:
I apologise for offending people w the use of naive. But I still hold the view that it is naive to be surprised, as many seemed to be, at the suggestion that Gaines could be anti-choice and anti-lgb.

Could you please dig out the 'many' posts where people seem naive and surprised?

Bc I myself view efforts to ban abortion in the first trimester as harmful to women, and efforts to oppose gay marriage. It doesn't mean that I see Gaines or others who have those views as evil, but it does mean that I will be concerned if they are promoting those views & marshalling support for them on a popular podcast or whatever. Obviously they should have the right to do that, and I have a right to be concerned about it.

(As I've said, Gaines hasn't actually voiced a view on lgb rights, I am sorry for the earlier mistake about that. She doesn't really speak much about abortion on the podcast either. The ADF thing wasn't about gay marriage per se. As I said upthread, they oppose civil partnerships & promote the criminalisaton of homosexuality in the US & abroad in Jamaica, India & others. I was under the impression she was endorsing their whole agenda. They just discussed trans stuff, so I made a mistake. Kirk Cameron's comments were about homosexuality per se, not gay marriage, but likewise it wasn't really discussed on the podcast).

Obvs TRAs are the worst kinds of campaigners normally. But if an increasingly popular trans supporting figure is marshalling support for that cause on a podcast or whatever, I won't see them as evil or stupid by default for doing that, I would be able to see if they had reasoned arguments. But I would be concerned, as I view trans promotion as harmful.

@AliasGrace47 Are you going to reply to my post?

Many people wanted sources- I know this is probs bc people like Kelly Jay often get smeared & misrepresented, and in my case, I had made a mistake, so it's good it was checked.

But on the other hand, it suggested to me that people were surprised that Gaines might oppose abortion & lgb rights, and thought it was likely made up. She identifies herself as a conservative Christian, it wouldn't be surprising if she had those views. I appreciate that people were rightly worried about lies from TRAs, but Gaines having those views is more likely than Kellie Jay being a Nazi or any of those ridiculous things people say.

Hey, I was just typing! There's no need to demand an instant reply...

@AliasGrace47 do you only support the right to abortion in the first trimester?

I was wrong about the ADF platform sharing anyway. Platform sharing itself is never wrong, we need any help we can get, and if we don't talk to others we're as bad as the TRAs.

I love Gaines reply about Nasser. It does feel uncomfortable to bring it up, but as a victim herself Biles is throwing others under the bud. How can she support SA victims & then throw in her lot w the TRAs? OK, she didn't say she supports men in women's prisons etc. But changing rooms are bad enough

Yes

You realise that many feminists would think your position is anti choice regarding abortions.

I did not demand anything, but the post that you sent straight after mine did not address my question.

Many people wanted sources

You will be asked for sources on FWR whatever you post. Some people posted shit about Simone Biles, and we asked for sources. The fact that this forum is evidence based is the only reason I come here.

I know that. But I do support choice, I believe every woman should have the opportunity to choose, for whatever reason. (Sex selection is horrible, but how would you know that's the reason? Most would not say that). I just believe that choice should be made early. Pro life campaigners concern me bc they generally only want exemptions for rape/danger to life, and don't consider simply not wanting the baby a valid reason.

I would make an exception for 2nd trimester for women who have been raped, or danger to the mother, or if she was suicidal
Generally I just focus on getting access early so that there can be a choice when the baby is not too developed.