Oregon Transgender Teenager Wins Girls' State Track And Gets Booed
Transgender runner Aayden Gallagher, a sophomore at McDaniel High School in Oregon, won the 200-meter dash at the Oregon School Activities Association Track & Field State Championships. Gallagher was booed after crossing the finishing line and during the ceremony.
The race was held in Eugene
Girls competed in Eugene, Oregon, at the stadium where the U.S. Championships and Olympic Trials occur. Gallagher won the 200-meter race by beating the second-placed runner by two-tenths of a second. She was also dubbed the likely winner of the 400-meter race but lost it in the finals by 0.15 of a second.
Cheering and booing
After Gallagher won the preliminary race in the 400-meter race, there were reports of outrage by Republican lawmakers. They were joined by former swimming champion Riley Gaines, who is one of the most vocal opponents of transgender athletes competing with biological females. Gallagher, a tenth grader, faced cheers and loud boos following the 200-meter victory.
Look at the girls on the podium applauding when 2nd place (the rightful winner) is announced.
Then watch them when the boys name is announced.
Stop saying girls are okay with this because they aren't. This is heartbreaking and deeply regressive. https://t.co/VmjeTtwgIk pic.twitter.com/5o36MbMICD
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 19, 2024
By the law
Oregon State Activities Association (OSAA) allows students to compete in a category that aligns with their gender identity. The students do not have to bring any proof of medical transition. OSAA insists on a safe environment and wants to help more students get involved in interscholastic activities.
Gaines made several posts on X
The University of Kentucky NCAA swimming champion blasted Gallagher during preliminaries and the finales. She called the girl who took second place a true winner and suggested that the transgender teen’s victory was unfortunate. In another X post, Gaines called people to listen to the boos.
One mother spoke up
One mother spoke to The Publica and shared that Aayden should be competing with boys. She said her daughter was a senior, adding that people shouldn’t be taking away rights from the girls and their emotions should be valid. The mother’s name was not revealed, and her face was blurred.
Allegations against Gallagher
DyeStat editor Doug Binder alleged on RunnerSpace.com that Gallagher was previously in weight training and added that she had not competed in track before joining the girls’ team. He wondered how someone who joined track only two months ago could be the fastest girl from Portland.
Meanwhile, in West Virginia
Five middle schoolers who protested transgender students’ participation in track and field competition were banned from future competitions. The middle schoolers caught the attention of the state’s Attorney General, Patrick Morrisey. He filed a lawsuit against the Harrison County Board of Education on behalf of students.
Going all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court
Morrisey announced he would ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. This will be the second time the highest court will be involved in the state’s case against transgender school-aged athletes, reports claim. The federal appeals court previously allowed the transgender girl to compete.
Judge’s ruling
The eighth-grader, on estrogen therapy and puberty blockers, won the right to compete before winning first place at the Harrison County Championships track. Judge Toby Heytens ruled that offering her not to compete or compete among boys would be like giving her no choice.
Morrisey defended protestors
The AG, who will likely be a governor candidate, said that five girls who were protesting were not disruptive. Five students forfeited their shot-put competition on April 18 in protest. Morrisey called this move a quiet demonstration of dissatisfaction with the appellate court’s ruling.
Gaines chimed in
The former swimmer turned activist expressed on X that the girls were acting like adults, adding she was proud of them. Gaines counted that the tide was turning. Morrisey reported Gaines’ message and added he will do everything he can to stand against radical trans policies.
Gaines’ experience
Gaines previously spoke up against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and even suggested on a podcast with Bill Maher that some would change in the janitor’s closet. She added that she had to stop herself from looking when asked rather personal questions about Thomas and explained that she was a 6’4″ man so that people could guess for themselves.
