A transgender high school volleyball player allegedly lost her scholarship because anti-trans activist and former competitive swimmer, Riley Gaines, outed her on social media and campaigned for the revocation of her scholarship.
According to LGBTQ Nation, the high school junior had “verbally committed” to accept a scholarship offered by the University of Washington. It’s unclear how Gaines found out about the news, as well as how she determined the teen was trans. (The teen’s identity and whether or not she is trans has not been confirmed.)
Despite unclear sources and information, Gaines moved forward with outing the volleyball player on X (the site formerly known as Twitter)—where she has over 916,000 followers—misgendered her, and requested that the University of Washington revoke her scholarship.
Gaines wrote, “Male takes women’s volleyball scholarship at @UW … a soon-to-be Big 10 school. Stealing the already few opportunities for women at the collegiate level. How can he be proud? @UWVolleyball should rescind the scholarship if they really care about women. He can play with the men.” Gaines also posted the alleged teen’s photo.
Three days after Gaines’ tweet, she wrote a post celebrating the fact that UW Volleyball had reportedly revoked the teen athlete’s scholarship. Gaines wrote, “It’s alleged that @UWVolleyball rescinded the scholarship from the male vying to play with the women. Sources say the coaches had NO idea he is a male. He and his family concealed his sex throughout the entire recruiting process. The power of public opinion & accountability.”
Meanwhile, Gaines provided no proof of her claims and beyond getting the teen’s scholarship revoked, also inspired right-wing critics to take aim at her including the anti-trans sports organization ICONS driving a truck with “Girls scholarships are for #GirlsOnly” written on the side.
On the other side, LGBTQ+ activists like Ari Drennan (the LGBTQ program director for the nonprofit, Media Matters for America) wrote on X, “The teenager that these obsessive freaks outed allegedly transitioned before puberty, so there’s no question of unfair advantages in sports. But the anti trans panic was never for one moment about fairness.”
Gaines has been on a crusade against the participation of trans women in women’s sports since she tied for fifth place with trans University of Pennsylvania swimmer, Lia Thomas, in the women’s 200-meter freestyle final at the National Collegiate Athletics Association swimming and diving championships.
In response to one of Gaines’ tweets outing the alleged trans teen and calling for her volleyball scholarship to be revoked, someone responded, “You’re really doing all of this because you came in fifth?! Really?”
More from So.Gay:
In a blow to trans rights, Ohio House overrides veto for trans healthcare, sports participation
California Attorney General deems forced outing ‘unconstitutional’
Proposed Florida bill gives $35K fine for speaking against transphobia
