West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrissey hosted Riley Gaines on Wednesday as Riley Gaines signed the law and codified the definitions of “man” and “woman” into state law.
The text of the measure will “reaffirm the longstanding meaning” of male and female genders under state law and preserve women's toilets, bedrooms, locker rooms and other privately owned facilities for women's sole use.
In the three years since Gaines' infamous ties with transgender Swimmeria Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Women's Swimming Championships, similarly named laws have already been signed in Georgia, which focuses on sports.
For Gaines, she is “honor” to see the state law and help prevent similar incidents from happening with other female athletes.
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Riley Gaines speaks after Governor Patrick Morrissey signed WV's Riley Gaines Act (Screenshot/Gov. Morrisey)
“There is no greater honor than attaching your name to something as fundamental and important as the defense of women's rights and biological reality,” Gaines said in a statement. “The Riley Gaines Act only defines gender-based terms in state law, such as male and female, to prevent elected officials from reinterpreting these terms and meaning what they want. The majority of Americans know what women are.
Gaines' move to protect women from trans athletes has grown into a national movement across the merchandising industry, becoming one of the biggest political wild cards in 2024.
How transgenderism in sports changed the 2024 election and sparked national counterculture
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on February 5th to prevent trans athletes from competing in women and girls' sports. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)
But even in a total of 27 states with their own laws to combat executive orders and trans-athlete inclusion, Gaines believes there is more to do to combat this issue.
“As opposed to those who might think Trump has returned to the White House, the awakened war has yet to be won.” There's more to do, but leaders like President Trump and Governor Morrissey have paved the way,” Gaines said.
Several states, including California, Maine, Minnesota and Massachusetts, continue to have trans athletes compete with women. The US Senate recently failed to pass women and girls protections in sports law after Democrat minorities blocked the bill via filibusters.
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Gaines vows to help remove all 45 Democrat senators who voted against the bill, and has not ruled out potential runs for the political office in the future. (Mikala Compton/American-Statesman/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Gaines vows to help remove all 45 Democrat senators who voted against the bill, and has not ruled out potential runs for the political office in the future.
“I've never seen myself do it,” Gaines previously told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.
“But now, of course, I'll say the whole American first agenda, including this issue. I'm so passionate, I care so deeply about it, and I love it.
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