“Deeply traumatic.”
Those were the words Lynn Mahony, president of San Francisco State University (SFSU), used to describe a recent on-campus speech given to students and staff by former NCAA Division I swimmer Riley Gaines, in which she adamantly defended the rights of women. But as soon as she concluded her remarks decrying biological women athletes competing against biological males who identify as women, Gaines was assaulted by a group of transgender activists.
“The event was deeply traumatic for many in our trans and LGBTQ+ communities,” Mahoney described the vicious incident in a formal written statement. “The speaker’s message outraged many members of the SF State community who value inclusion and social justice.”
Mahoney was forced to address the event because of the national attention garnered when the mob of pro-transgender radicals stormed the building, blocked the exits, and spewed vulgarities and violent threats at Gaines.
Forced to barricade herself in a classroom for three hours, Gaines was finally able to make her way out of the building and away from the campus with the help of and protection of the police.
“All of a sudden, ambushers swarm in, tons of them,” Gaines told DailyMail.com. “They immediately rush to the front of the room where I am; so, I’m kind of cornered at a podium at this point.
“They’re screaming in my face. This is the point where I was struck twice … I believe, aiming for my shoulder both times. But [they] hit me the first time on the shoulder, and then, the second time, it grazed my face.”
But President Mahoney characterized this vicious attack quite differently than Gaines.
“I applaud the students, staff, and faculty,” wrote Mahoney, “who rallied quickly to host alternative inclusive events, protest peacefully, and provide one another with support at a difficult moment.”
Wow!
It was definitely “a difficult moment” (three hours actually) for Gaines, but this was not the first difficult moment for the five-time SEC women’s swimming champion.
In fact, Gaines has faced a great deal of opposition to her stand against transgender athletes invading the world of women’s sports. But she is fully invested in the fight, knowing firsthand that athletic competitions between biological males and females are unfair, unbalanced, and ultimately unsafe.
Her personal activism on behalf of female athletes began in March 2022, when University of Pennsylvania swimmer Will Thomas, a transgender “woman,” who goes by the name Lia, won the NCAA Division I national championship in the women’s 500-yard freestyle event, beating out biological female swimmers.
During the three-day 2022 competition, Thomas tied Gaines for 5th place in the 200-meter championship race. However, NCAA officials presented the only trophy for 5th place to Thomas, the transgender athlete.
One could even say the entire 2022 championship event was deeply traumatic for Riley Gaines, especially the moment Thomas received a 5th-place trophy, but as the tying swimmer, she did not. Because a year later, Gaines still has received no trophy for her winning efforts.
But she has received many invitations to speak about the travesty of male athletes competing as transgender female athletes against biological women.
One of those invitations took her to SFSU and resulted in the “deeply traumatic” attack that the Far-Left community refuses to acknowledge. Even so, Gaines remains unfazed by dismissive and deflective statements such as those made by Mahoney. Hateful rhetoric and threats from the transgender community will not stop her either.
Gaines told Fox News that she would not be backing down from her mission of saving women’s sports. She was adamant that situations like the one at SFSU, though terrifying, would not steer her off track.
“This does not deter me,” said Gaines. “This assures me that I am doing the right thing. This will not silence me. When they want me to be silenced, it just means I need to speak louder.”
And that is exactly what Woke Liberals fear most – the truth spoken bravely, loudly, and repetitively by Gaines and other Christians who will not back down or disappear.
Ironically, part of Mahoney’s statement reveals this fact and the crux of the issue more clearly than anything I could have penned:
“Due to the attention this speaker [Gaines] received from national media, you may see or receive communications critical of the University, its employees, and its values. Please respect their right to voice that opinion, even if it differs greatly from your own as long as you do not feel personally threatened.”
Evidently, the truthful words of Riley Gaines were “personally threatening” to an entire mob of LGBTQ activists. Poor things! Her words were so deeply traumatic that they were forced to physically traumatize their guest speaker.
Instead of their violent attack on a person voicing a personal opinion borne out of personal experiences, these deeply traumatized activists should have taken their president’s advice.
“If you do feel threatened,” stated Mahoney, “contact the Office of Campus Safety or the University Police Department immediately. Please also avail yourselves of the support services for students or employees as needed.”
Mahoney’s advice sure would have saved Riley Gaines from a deeply traumatic attack, and it could have prevented the impending lawsuit against the university which Gaines is pursuing.
Oops! That might end up being another deeply traumatic (and financially costly) experience for SFSU.
Keep those phone lines open, President Mahoney. You may need them!
