A house RESOLUTION

to recognize Riley Gaines, a member of the University of Kentucky Women's swim team, For her achievements in women's swimming, to congratulate her for being named the Southeastern Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and to commend her for the courageous exercise of her first amendment right to speak openly regarding women in sports.

Whereas, a swimmer from Gallatin, Tennessee, Riley Gaines was destined to compete. Her parents were active in competitive sports.  Her father, Brad Gaines, played football at Vanderbilt University, and her mother, Telisha Gaines, played softball at Donelson Christian Academy and Austin Peay State University; and

Whereas, Ms. Gaines attended Station Camp High School in Gallatin, Tennessee, and as a junior, she won the 100-meter butterfly and 100-meter freestyle in the TISCA High School Swim and Dive Championship in Knoxville in 2017; and

Whereas, she joined the University of Kentucky's swim team and made the All-SEC Freshman Team in 2019.  She also made the All-SEC Second Team in 2019 and 2020. She participated in the 2021 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, coming in second in the 4 x 200m-freestyle relay and seventh in the 200m-freestyle race and making the All-SEC First Team that year; and

Whereas, in 2022, Ms. Gaines placed fifth while swimming for the University of Kentucky in the 200-yard NCAA freestyle championship, tying  with University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, who was the first openly trans woman champion in the NCAA to compete in the women's division; and

Whereas, she campaigns against the inclusion of trans women in the women's division of sports, including lobbying her state representatives to pass a law that would prohibit transgender individuals from women's sports.  As part of her campaign, she participated in a small protest in January 2023 at the NCAA Convention, and at risk to her personal safety, she has spoken at political and other public events in support of keeping women's sports for women; and

Whereas, she has had a national and global impact by taking a courageous stand to exercise her First Amendment right to speak publicly about her beliefs that only women should be competing in women's sports; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is grateful that Riley Gaines, a true winner, is expressing her beliefs within the boundaries of her First Amendment constitutionally protected rights, appreciates her leadership, and looks forward to learning of her future accomplishments.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize Riley Gaines, a member of the University of Kentucky women's swim team, for her achievements in women's swimming, congratulate her for being named the Southeastern Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and commend her for the courageous exercise of her First Amendment right to speak openly regarding women in sports.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Riley Gaines.

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