Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ceremoniously signed Senate Bill 15 into law at the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame yesterday, a bill which will prevent transgendered females (also known as men) from being allowed into women’s sports. The bill was passed in June and won’t take effect until September 1, but the mood at the event was still celebratory.
Several prominent athletes who have been outspoken about this issue were in attendance, including Riley Gaines and Paula Scanlan (who both swam against William "Lia" Thomas), as well as Macy Petty, who was told by ChatGPT that it was wrong of her to claim that only women should be allowed to compete in women’s sports. Independent Women's Network's (IWN) Austin chapter leader Michelle Evans also attended the signing.
However, not everything at the event went along smoothly. A crowd of roughly 150 people gathered outside the building in protest of the bill, and things got dicey between protesters and the female athletes who were there to support women.
"It was — I guess the best word to describe them was they were rabid,” Evans said. “When I turned around to go back inside of the building, that's when somebody threw water on me. Somebody told me they know where I f---ing live. There was somebody that got in front of me to try to physically block me from going back inside and pushed her body up against mine. Somebody hit my arm, and then someone — a woman in a pink ski mask and sunglasses — spit into my open eye."
That’s awful by any standard, but accounts don’t get better after that. When several grade-school girls walked by the crowd, the protesters yelled directly in their faces. Because, you know, yelling at children is always the best way to process your frail emotions.
DISGUSTING: Protestors targeted young girls outside of the signing of the #SaveWomensSports Act in Texas.
— Independent Women's Voice (@IWV) August 7, 2023
Girls, as young as 5, were harassed & called vulgar names, all for joining the celebration of protecting equal athletic opportunity. pic.twitter.com/QdPFpThq6L
Kids do not deserve to be harassed by deranged individuals who support an agenda that could ruin their ability not just to play sports fairly in the future, but who believe men can become women after a surgery. It is disgusting to watch.
Despite all the commotion outside, Gaines said she was still pleased by the day’s proceedings.
Related: Tennis Legend Martina Navratilova Slams USTA For Transgender Policy
"Even in the great state of [Texas], protestors have tried to find a way to smear the celebration of Governor Abbott signing SB 15 which protects female collegiate athletics. But they can't," Gaines said.
Petty even took time to say that she would pray for the people outside and that she hoped they would come to faith in Jesus.
Update: they are extremely hostile and spitting on people. We are finding a safe exit
— Macy Petty (@macypetty0416) August 7, 2023
Please join us in praying for these individuals that they find hope in Jesus Christ! Life does not have to be this way
Not scared, just don’t feel like getting spit on :) we won’t be silent https://t.co/dK9d2jrD9j
Contrast how Petty responded to witnessing her and others being physically harassed with how the transgender activists reacted to a governor passing a commonsense bill, and you’ll see one of the many reasons why the LGBT movement should be rejected on all fronts.
Evans is hopeful that even if LGBT activists continue to harass those who support bills such as SB 15, other states will continue to protect women’s sports and women’s rights no matter what the cost.
"We’re going in the right direction, we’re just going far too slowly," Evans said. “Sports is the tip of the iceberg, but the iceberg is much bigger than people are giving it credit for."
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LGBTQ groups target children because if they can stick their ideology on them when they are young it’s harder for them to escape it. https://t.co/kwVFs0j39J
— MRCTV (@mrctv) August 8, 2023