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Riley Gaines was tired of seeing Women’s History Month being co-opted to honor transgender trailblazers like Rachel Levine and Lia Thomas — and she wasn’t the only one.
A host of high-profile women, including Republican lawmakers, conservative leaders and single-sex sports advocates, joined her in declaring Tuesday the first-ever Real Women’s Day, an occasion to “honor the achievements of real women and recognize the intrinsic value that only they can provide.”
Ms. Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer, said she came up with the idea after watching an ESPN special for Women’s History Month in March that showcased swimmer Lia Thomas, the first known male-born athlete to win an NCAA Division I women’s title.
“A few months ago during Women’s History Month, I noticed a common theme,” said Ms. Gaines in a Saturday post on TikTok. “And that theme was that in places that we were supposed to be honoring trailblazing women, we were honoring men who were claiming the identity of a woman.”
Other examples include USA Today, which declared Biden administration official Rachel Levine one of its 2022 Women of the Year. The newspaper doubled down this year by honoring Leigh Finke, Minnesota’s first transgender state legislator.
“This is when I started to think to myself, we need a day to honor real women. You know, women with XX chromosomes,” Ms. Gaines said. “So after thinking and brainstorming, I have now declared Oct. 10 as Real Women’s Day.”
She picked Tuesday because it’s Oct. 10, or the 10th day of the 10th month. In Roman numerals, that makes it XX.
“If you took fifth-grade biology, then you know XX is the female chromosome,” Ms. Gaines said.
The announcement struck a chord with Rep. Lisa McClain, Michigan Republican, who introduced a House resolution Tuesday declaring it Real Women’s Day.
“No matter what the radical left says in their attempt to brainwash the country, the biological truth is that men cannot be women & women cannot be men,” the congresswoman said on social media. “That’s why I’m introducing a bill today declaring 10/10 as #RealWomensDay, because XX chromosomes show this fundamental truth.”
Former Trump Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Tuesday released a video on Title IX saying the federal law “meant to promote opportunities for girls and women has, thanks to progressives, been turned against them.”
“It’s #RealWomensDay, which makes it a great day to #ProtectTitleIX and #SaveWomensSports from the radical Biden re-write,” Ms. DeVos wrote on X.
It’s #RealWomensDay, which makes it a great day to #ProtectTitleIX and #SaveWomensSports from the radical Biden re-write. @Riley_Gaines_ https://t.co/vpuAiqDChT
— Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVos) October 10, 2023
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who signed a law last year barring male-born athletes from female sports, also celebrated Real Women’s Day, saying on social media: “I stand with @rileygaines in her push to protect girls sports for girls!”
“It’s not controversial to recognize the inherent differences between men and women - especially in competitive sports,” said Mrs. Reynolds, a Republican.
This October 10th (X/X), we’re celebrating Real Women’s Day. Ya know, the kind that can give birth and breastfeed and menstruate and lack a Y chromosome. The only kind of women.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) October 10, 2023
Women are not menstruators, bleeders, chestfeeders, cervix-havers, uterus-owners, egg-producers, or… pic.twitter.com/LRgFipu9oP
A petition to declare Oct. 10 Real Women’s Day is posted on the website at the Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute.
“We need to say enough is enough,” she said. “It’s time to roll up our sleeves and say no. Women are being erased, so it’s time that our voices were heard.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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