‘That Is A Fraud’: DeSantis Takes Aim At Transgender Swimmer Lia Thomas, Draws Packed Crowd For Speech

On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis held an event at Liberty University in Virginia where he decried biological males who identify as women who play in women’s sports, calling them “frauds.”

Thousands of students from the conservative university came to the event in order to hear from the Florida governor who is widely predicted to enter the 2024 race for the Republican presidential nomination this summer.

The governor held the event as the country has been imbued in a national conversation on transgenderism in sports, most notably brought on by male Lia Thomas who dominated the women’s swimming competition last year.

JUST IN: Gov. Ron DeSantis draws packed crowd, warm welcome at Liberty University event pic.twitter.com/Nssg4tkyJC

— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) April 14, 2023

“It is wrong to have a swimmer compete for three years on the men’s swim team, switch to the women’s team, and then win the women’s national championship,” DeSantis explained to the college students, as reported by Fox News. “That is a fraud. That is wrong.”

Thank you for having me, @LibertyU. Enjoyed my time on campus! pic.twitter.com/ieHyi06ah7

— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) April 14, 2023

The comments against transgender individuals in sports come after Thomas’ former opponent Riley Gaines, who has made a name for herself speaking up for women’s sports, was held hostage by protesters at a speaking event at San Francisco State University, as previously reported by the DC Enquirer.

A clip that went viral showed Gaines being ushered through a hallway by police while transgender advocates pursued her while screaming profanities at the former athlete.

Ultimately, the police barricaded Gaines in a safe room for three hours as the agitators at one point negotiated for cash payment for Gaines’ release.

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“The prisoners are running the asylum at SFSU…I was ambushed and physically hit twice by a man. This is proof that women need sex-protected spaces,” Gaines wrote on Twitter with the viral clip attached. “Still only further assures me I’m doing something right. When they want you silent, speak louder.”

The prisoners are running the asylum at SFSU…I was ambushed and physically hit twice by a man. This is proof that women need sex-protected spaces.

Still only further assures me I'm doing something right. When they want you silent, speak louder. 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/uJW3x9RERf

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 7, 2023

The clip gained national attention with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) writing, “This is an appalling attack on free speech on a college campus. House Republicans stand with Riley Gaines and her brave and tireless efforts to protect women’s sports.”

This is an appalling attack on free speech on a college campus.

House Republicans stand with Riley Gaines and her brave and tireless efforts to protect women’s sports. https://t.co/KLGQZsTRlp

— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) April 7, 2023

Republicans have taken strong stances on this issue with Governor DeSantis passing a bill last year that protected women’s sports.

“In Florida, girls are going to play girls’ sports, and boys are going to play boys’ sports,” DeSantis said at the time, as reported by Breitbart. 

“I think the opposite’s true. I think if you have a biological male competing against these women athletes like we saw Selina [Soule] from Connecticut, she was deprived of being able to advance in New England regional because the top two finishers were biological males,” he said at the time in reference to a Connecticut high school track athlete who experienced a similar situation to Gaines.

“If she competed on an even playing field, she would have been able to advance and advance her career. So what we’re really doing is protecting women against discrimination in athletic competition,” DeSantis explained, adding, “I think that’s something that’s really important — that we preserve the integrity and fairness of these girls’ and women’s sports.”

DeSantis has been a champion on this issue and he has shown the way for other governors to take a stand to protect women’s sports. His comments at Liberty further show Americans that he is on the side of truth rather than fiction.

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