Riley Gaines, who opposes trans rights, insulted trans journalist Erin Reed on Thursday after Reed posted on X about challenging Utah’s strict bathroom law.
The law makes it a criminal offense for people to use a bathroom in a public building that doesn’t match the gender on their birth certificate. Reed, who monitors anti-trans laws nationally, previously wrote about how the law raises the possibility of people being required to undergo a genital examination if they are suspected of being in the wrong bathroom.
According to the law, individuals accused of using the “wrong” bathroom in public places, from colleges to Salt Lake City’s airport, could be imprisoned for up to six months.
This didn’t deter Reed from boldly entering a public bathroom during a trip to Utah.
“The first thing I did was use the bathroom after arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah,” Reed stated on Wednesday. “Anti-trans laws will not enforce themselves, and unjust laws do not deserve compliance.”
The next day, Gaines responded to Reed’s post with a barrage of insults that also included misidentifying her.
“Thanks for showing that you’re still the same dominant, assertive, forceful man you always have been and always will be lol,” Gaines wrote.
Gaines has made a career as an anti-trans commentator based on the fact that she once competed in an NCAA swimming match with a trans woman. She has since dedicated her life to crusading against the rights of trans athletes.
Reed, however, did not accept the insults without fighting back.
“Want to guess how many people cared, Riley?” Reed responded. “It’s been months in Florida and they can’t find anyone who cares enough to report a trans person using the bathroom. You need the laws because the people literally reject your ideology.”
Reed was referring to a similar law in Florida that took effect last July and forces trans people to use facilities associated with their assigned sex at birth.
Several of Reed's followers agreed that they have been able to easily use the bathrooms in which they feel most comfortable, supporting her argument that everyday people are far less concerned with where trans people use the restroom than politicians suggest.
Others simply ridiculed Gaines for her beliefs, hypocrisy, and for her exaggerated response to competing with a trans woman.
