Most bill signings are probably pretty staid affairs.
Somebody says something about the bill being signed, everyone cheers, and the people involved with the bill sometimes get a pen as a reminder of the work that they did to help get the bill passed.
But the women who helped lobby for the “Save Women’s Sports Act” in Texas will have another memory of their bill signing day on Monday: how they were assailed by radical protesters as they tried to get into and out of the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame for the bill signing.
Swimmers Riley Gaines and Paula Scanlan have stood up for women’s rights in sports in the past and have been speaking out. Gaines was infamously set upon and effectively held hostage for a few hours at San Francisco University. Scanlan testified before Congress about her experiences having to deal with a naked transgender Lia Thomas in the women’s locker room, managing to prompt Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) to accidentally admit the importance of separate spaces for women in the process.
Both Scanlan and Gaines described what happened in Texas on Monday.
“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, host of OutKick podcast “Gaines for Girls,” told Fox News Digital in a statement.
“Today is a huge win and Gov. Abbott’s leadership is foundational and I’m hopeful more states will follow suit.”
Speaking of the protest, Gaines continued, “Bottles are being thrown, protestors are spitting in people’s faces, profanity is being yelled at children. Law enforcement has stepped in and provided protection.”
Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer, Paula Scanlan, shared on social media that protesters blocked the exits and were “spitting and yelling.”
“Craziness of today aside, I was finally able to exit the event safely,” Scanlan said on X, the company formerly known as Twitter.
“Although crowds of people may call us names, we prevailed today in the state of Texas. Our work is not finished and I hope other states will follow in the footsteps of Texas.”
Independent Women’s Network Austin chapter leader Michelle Evans described the ranting crowd as about 250 people who were “rabid.” She said they were even screaming at the little girls who had been brought by their mothers for the signing. So much for the “kindness and inclusion crowd.”
DISGUSTING: Protestors targeted young girls outside of the signing of the #SaveWomensSports Act in Texas.
Girls, as young as 5, were harassed & called vulgar names, all for joining the celebration of protecting equal athletic opportunity. pic.twitter.com/QdPFpThq6L
— Independent Women’s Voice (@IWV) August 7, 2023
“As they were being walked out by their mothers, and there was a police officer in front and in back of them, the protesters were getting in the kids’ faces and screaming and harassing them, frightening them. It was out of control.”
This was crazy. Evans said that she was shoved and hit, as well as spat on, in the eye.
As I was walking through @txwomans after the #SB15 signing I was physically assaulted – including being spit on in the eye – by the kindness and inclusion crowd. #SaveWomensSports #LetWomenSpeak @IWN @IWF @IWV @Riley_Gaines_ @TxValuesAction @FamilyProjectTX pic.twitter.com/hiolGNSbKV
— Michelle Evans (@ThinkerMichelle) August 7, 2023
Wild people were ranting in their faces for standing up for women’s rights, screaming, “Trans rights are human rights!” and holding up signs like “Get outta my panties.” You could hear the chilling shout, “We know where you f**king live!” which clearly was intended to terrify the women. No one wants to be in their “panties,” which is pretty ironic since they seem to want biological men to be in women’s spaces.
Paula Scanlan asked a great question that these radical protesters seemed oblivious to: Aren’t women’s rights human rights too?
What about women’s rights? Are women’s rights not human rights? pic.twitter.com/54zzS9lxPa
— Paula Scanlan (@PaulaYScanlan) August 7, 2023
The radicals didn’t seem to care about that.
While celebrating the bill, Riley Gaines decried the fact that this was even necessary.
Texas Governor @GregAbbott_TX signs ‘Save Women’s Sport Act’ . The bill prohibits biological men from competing against women in college sports. @Riley_Gaines_ calls it a huge win. pic.twitter.com/mkjIHd8N0G
— Stella Escobedo (@StellaEscoTV) August 7, 2023
But despite the travails, the women persisted, and they triumphed.
Breaking – @GovAbbott says “The Save Women’s Sports Act is now law in #Texas!” Thank u for your leadership Governor! & @mayes_middleton – Rep Valoree Swanson, @Riley_Gaines_ @macypetty0416 – @PaulaYScanlan @IWF @CWforA #txlege #SaveWomensSports @MECastlePolicy1 @family_policy pic.twitter.com/vXF5cSrlt7
— Jonathan Saenz (@jonathansaenzTX) August 7, 2023
