Former University of Kentucky swimmer and NCAA All-American Riley Gaines has called on prominent female athletes to speak out on the transgender sports debate. Gaines believes that women and girls are depending on these athletes, who have platforms and influence, to take a stance on the issue so that changes can ultimately be made. Gaines has been tagging well-known female athletes on Twitter each day this week and stating that "silence is complicity" on the issue of biological males competing in women's sports. She believes that the silence from some of these athletes is due to fear of "cancel culture".
Gaines specifically called out tennis sisters Serena and Venus Williams, who have yet to respond to her request. Gaines believes that the Williams sisters are likely silent on the issue due to being scared of "cancel culture". In 2013, Serena Williams stated that she preferred to play against women because the men are faster, serve harder, and hit harder, making it a completely different game.
Transgender athletes who have proven successful in women's sports include CeCĂ© Telfer, who became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA title in the Division II Track and Field 400-meter hurdle in 2019, swimmer Lia Thomas who won the 500-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA championship, and trans cyclist Austin Killips who placed first for the Tour of Gila, competing in the women's category.
Gaines believes that the issue will get worse before it gets better. She is concerned about the number of girls who may be injured playing against males, the number of girls who may lose out on scholarships and titles, and the number of girls who may feel violated in the locker room.
As of Thursday afternoon, Serena and Venus Williams' media teams did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.