Riley Gaines to Speak at RU tonight
12-time All-American swimmer Riley Gaines is coming to Radford University on November 15 as part of her Speak Louder Campus Tour.
Location: Bonnie Hurlburt Student Center at Radford University
Speech Start Time: 7pm ET (Media interviews starting at 6:30pm ET)
During her national speaking tour, sponsored by the Leadership Institute, Gaines aims to encourage college students to speak-up for our fundamental right to free speech, for truth and for women. This speaking event will be open to the public.
Women have been stripped of opportunities to fairly compete in sports; denied scholarships; put in physical danger; and exposed to humiliation in locker rooms. Worse, people who oppose this movement have been silenced, threatened, and physically assaulted — these injustices will only accelerate if we don’t speak up now and Gaines’ talk focuses on encouraging the next generation to fight for our fundamental rights and for fairness.
In Riley’s words: “No girl or woman should have to endure the utter disregard and humiliation that my fellow swimmers and I did.” Through her speaking tour, Riley aims to empower students, athletes, community leaders, parents, and other allies to advocate for women and girls, defend women’s identity.
In August, Gaines launched the Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute to fight the push to erase women and destroy women’s sports. This is an important initiative and resource at a critical time in our country and Gaines’ speaking tour is one aspect of the Center’s work.
The Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute has been created to advocate for girls, women, and parents at a time when we are under attack: stripped of opportunities to fairly compete in sports; denied access to sex-based scholarships and academic opportunities; put in physical danger on athletic courts and fields; and exposed to bodily harm and humiliation in locker rooms and private areas.
November 27, 2023 @ 11:30 am
Well, Sam, a man telling a woman how to think is not new. I always speak as a woman. I have no choice. If Mrs. Barker didn’t get the settlements, the reporting on it is false. That is wrong to do.
I know, however, she is not giving lectures for free. Her foundation is always begging for donations. Her net worth is much more than a college swimmer makes. I wouldn’t pay her 2 cents for her vast 23 years of expert knowledge as an average college swimmer to know about trans athletes. We would have never heard of Barker had she won that day. I find it hard to believe men sit around worrying about women’s sports. Men don’t care about “women’s safe spaces” in the locker room. What is a safe space in this society right now? The locker rooms are open and readily available to any child molester. Any Team Doctor and any coach. Women aren’t safe just getting into their car, going to the bank, walking on a nature trail, jogging down the street, etc.
Women’s safety? We can’t even agree to keep guns out of domestic violence abusers’ hands. Fund safe houses for women escaping unsafe situations. What are you doing on any of those women’s concerns?
Criticism of trans athletes is another excuse to attack a minority group. Do you know any men who are really concerned about protecting women? Keep guns out of their abusers hands. Close the income gap. Help get healthcare coverage for women and children. Increase housing assistance for poor women and children. Childcare assistance so women can work. Food assistance to feed poor women and children. And women need the right to choose their own healthcare needs. This is a small example of women’s life issues. You won’t say anything to Congress about them because these issues are about women. Respect for women. Attacking trans people means you can continue to disrespect women and disrespect trans people.
November 24, 2023 @ 10:58 pm
Well, Elizabeth, Riley Gains didn’t sue Lia Thompson or settle for $1.2 million. I wish she had. Men don’t belong in women’s sports. All women should be outraged that men can take their sports away from them. It’s being taken away from women who would win if it weren’t for a man competing. You as a woman, I surmise, should be more supportive of females having their own competition free from male who would dominate them. Where is women’s liberation when they are needed?
It isn’t just one swimmer that is at issue here, it is changing the rules to eliminate women only sports and it is creeping throughout the sports world. Would Gaines be outraged had she won against Thompson? Yes, she would. This is about a principle of fair competition. There are sports where women compete with men but it is known ahead of time and agreed to by those involved. Like equestrian and sailing where physical strength isn’t a factor rather skill and intelligence are competing similar to chess and cards and other competitions.
November 16, 2023 @ 11:19 am
Radical right Mrs. Riley Gaines Barker has used her grievance tour to create a grift for herself. Speaking fees. Barker settled out of court with Lia Thomas for $1.2 million. Other lawsuits. The Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute. Read the background of The Leadership Institute that she is affiliated with. The “attack to erase women from women sports” is based on what? What is the percentage of the millions of women athletes who aren’t biologically women? Had Barker beat Lia Thomas would she still be so enraged they were allowed to compete? Women athletes competing get injuries playing sports. All women on the court or field. I do not have the answers for how to treat the minority community of athletes. Hate is not helpful. People shouldn’t be hateful to Riley Gaines Barker just because you don’t agree with her message of loathing for certain students who want to participate. One swimmer doesn’t equal a multimillionaire payout and make Barker the expert on how to handle it.
Her website says:
Through the Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute, Riley will create powerful leaders to combat radical leftist ideology in their schools, their communities, and nationwide.
That message is abhorrent and Radford wonders why enrollment is down.