Former NCAA athlete Riley Gaines delivered a scathing message to ‘shameful’ Democrats after just two voted in favor of a law banning transgender athletes in women’s sports.

The US House of Representatives passed its first bill in the 119th Congress on Tuesday, voting in favor of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act – ensuring only people assigned female at birth can participate in women and girls athletics.

The revolutionary act received a 218-206 vote as all Republicans voted in its favor along with just two Democrats, Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez. 

North Carolina Representative Don Davis, a Democrat, voted present. All others voted against the act.

During the ruling, Gaines, 24, who leads a lawsuit against the NCAA for its stance allowing trans athletes to compete as women, delivered a blistering message to the 206 ‘shameful’ Democratic supporters. 

‘We heard of things like genital exams, we heard that girls would be asked to show what’s in their underwear, we heard that they would have to show internal and external anatomy, inspections, Taliban-like enforcers, hire predators to peak at enforcers on and on and on, weird fearmongering about predators, but that’s what Democrats do best,’ Gaines said.

Gaines also criticized those who said the bill was ‘a waste of time.’

‘I heard that this bill is a waste of time, and let me tell you the message I received when I heard that, it’s that I am a waste of time,’ Gaines said. 

Famed activist and former NCAA athlete, Riley Gaines (pictured), delivered a scathing message to ‘shameful’ Democrats as only two voted in favor of a law banning transgender athletes in women’s sports

The US House of Representatives passed its first bill in the 119th Congress on Tuesday, voting in favor of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Pictured: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, speaks during a press conference after the House passed a bill on transgender athletes at the US Capitol in Washington, DC 

‘Girls around the country, just like me, are a waste of time. Your daughters are a waste of time to all House Democrats except for two.’

Now a spokeswoman for the Independent Women’s Forum, Gaines famously tied Lia Thomas – the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship – for fifth place in the at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in March 2022. 

Others joined in on Gaines’ scornful spree, sharing their own takes on the monumental ruling. 

‘We had two Democrats join us, but it’s shameful, there should be many, many more. In fact, I argue that every member of this body voted for common sense and to protect women. But for some reason, for politics I guess, they chose not to,’ House Speaker Mike Johnson said. 

‘The American people sent a clear message in November, they want us to return to common sense, but it seems that some of our friends in the other party are ignoring that plea,’ he added. 

Representative Greg Steube echoed Johnson’s sentiments, adding: ‘The Democrats have, for years, tried to allow biological [men] to compete in our nation’s women’s collegiate activities.’

‘It’s absolutely absurd that we actually have to pass a bill that says only women can be in women’s sports!’

Gaines famously tied Lia Thomas – the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship – for fifth place in the at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in March 2022. Pictured: Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, second from right, stands during a rally

Now, in 2025, if passed, the legislation states that transgender women are entitled to practice or train with a program designated for women or girls, but may only be permitted to compete on teams consistent with their reproductive biology and genetics at birth

Steube had a hand in re-introducing the bill to the House after a failed attempt to pass in 2023.

The move comes years after President Biden issued an executive order on ‘Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.’

The order included a section that read, ‘Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports.’

Now, in 2025, if passed, the legislation states that transgender women are entitled to practice or train with a program designated for women or girls, but may only be permitted to compete on teams consistent with their reproductive biology and genetics at birth.