One of ESPN’s biggest stars has spoken out against the Biden administration’s plan to overhaul the rules around transgender participation in sports — breaking away from her network and arguing that allowing transgender women to compete alongside biological women is unfair.
ESPN has been supportive of transgender women in competition, and last month it included transgender swimmer Leah Thomas in its category for Women’s History Month.
But Sunday NFL Countdown host Samantha Ponder said she doesn’t get along with the trans women in the competition.
She spoke amid a heated debate sparked by the Biden administration’s proposed Title IX reform.
ESPN correspondent Samantha Ponder spoke out Wednesday against the Biden administration’s proposed overhaul of Title IX, saying it would allow trans women to compete against biological women, which she felt was unfair.
Riley Gaines (right) is seen in March 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia, after she swam against Leah Thomas (left) at the NCAA Championships
Title IX, introduced in 1972, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any school or other educational program that receives funding from the federal government.
The Biden administration has proposed reforming the law, which would prevent a blanket ban on transgender people in school sports. Any school that has imposed such a ban will no longer receive federal funding.
The Biden administration says it finds it unlikely that there will ever be a justification for barring transgender children in elementary school from competing.
However, the plan would allow for bans on transgender athletes for the sake of ‘competition fairness’ – paving the way for potential bans on athletes such as Leah Thomas.
The ambiguous nature of the ruling has angered both those who support the inclusion of transgender people in sport, and those campaigning against it.
Leah Thomas said the proposed change to the law did not go far enough in ensuring transgender people’s right to compete.
Riley Gaines, a swimmer who raced with Thomas in 2022 and has since become an outspoken campaigner against trans women in sports, said the Biden plan did not do enough to block trans athletes.
“The Biden administration’s proposed bill denies science, fact, and common sense,” Gaines wrote on Twitter.
This is selfish and shows a complete disregard for women.
The Biden administration is working aggressively to pass laws that erase decent and fair treatment of women in sports. @tweet
Leah Thomas is seen in the ESPN segment describing how moving on was her only option
Texas-born Thomas plays for the University of Pennsylvania
Bonder agreed with Gaines, tweeting on Wednesday: “This would take away a lot of opportunities for biological women and girls in sports.
It is a shame that we need to fight for the integrity of Title IX in 2023 and why it is needed in the first place. #savewomensports. “
In April 2016, ESPN fired Curt Schilling, an ESPN baseball analyst and former Boston Red Sox pitcher, over his comments about transgender bathrooms.
Schilling shared a Facebook post mocking critics of recent laws passed in North Carolina and other states that restrict transgender men and women from using public bathrooms that match their sexual preferences.
Schilling added his own comment to the post, criticizing transgender people.
Schilling wrote: “A man is a man no matter what they call themselves.”
“I don’t care what they are, who they sleep with, the men’s room is designed for the penis, the women not so much. Now you need laws that tell us differently? Pathetic.”
Gaines has become one of the most outspoken critics of trans women in sports, joining the likes of Martina Navratilova and Caitlyn Jenner in saying it’s unfair.
Jaynes appeared Tuesday night on The Piers Morgan Show to discuss the hostile reception she received when she was invited to give a speech at San Francisco State University, and to talk about her activism.
Gaines swam to join the University of Kentucky, ending her college career in 2022 as “one of the most decorated swimmers in the program’s history,” according to the UK website. She became a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer and five-time SEC champion.
Gaines competed against Thomas, a University of Pennsylvania swimmer, at the NCAA Championships in March 2022, and said the racing experience for Thomas — who competed in the men’s competition through 2019 — felt like going into a race with my hands tied behind them. my back.’
Last month, Gaines took issue with ESPN’s decision to praise Thomas’ contribution to women’s sports, posting the hashtag “Boycott ESPN” on Twitter.
“Lea Thomas is not a brave and courageous woman who earned a national title,” Gaines wrote on Twitter.
He is a deceitful arrogant who has stolen a national title from a hardworking and deserving woman. NCAA is responsible.
If I were a woman working for ESPN, I would walk out. You’re underweight @espn #boycottESPN. ‘
The ESPN segment was headlined: “Celebrating Women’s History Month.”
An audio commentary explained how Thomas made history by becoming the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division One Championship, in 2022, in the 500 freestyle.
The Texas-born swam in the men’s competitions until the start of her transition in May 2019, and made her debut in the women’s events in December 2021.
“Being trans is not an option,” said Thomas. I had no other choice because not moving was getting me nowhere.
People will say, “Oh, she just moved so she’s going to have an advantage so she can win.”
“I moved to be happy.”
DailyMail.com has contacted both ESPN and Thomas’ representative, and has not yet received a response.
Thomas became the first mobile athlete to win an NCAA Division One Championship title
Gaines was seen marching in January of this year outside an NCAA convention in San Antonio
Thomas’ competition as a woman has been highly controversial.
The swimmer had hoped, upon graduation, to bid to host the 2024 Paris Olympics – but that now seems unlikely given new rules requiring transgender athletes to transition before the age of 12, by June 2022.
Gaines, who studied public health and is now starting dental school, has become one of the most outspoken advocates against trans women in sports.
Whether they have different lung capacity, height, testosterone levels whether or not they use testosterone blockers – this does not preclude puberty as a male. Especially for Leah, who swam for three years as a male, Gaines told Fox News’ Tucker Carlson in April 2022.
“Lia Thomas has shown extreme selfishness and a huge lack of awareness – and a complete disregard for women.”
Gaines said Thomas’ participation in women’s team swimming is part of a broader problem in society.
“We are watching the denial of the simplest facts,” she said.
When you can’t identify what a woman is, there’s a big problem.
This is more than just a sport. This is a systematic erasure of what a woman is.
