Riley Gaines Launches Bold Ad Campaign Supporting Women’s Sports
Riley Gaines has launched a powerful new ad campaign advocating for a ban on trans women competing in women’s sports.
The campaign, gaining traction across social media, is even being considered as a potential Super Bowl ad.
Gaines, a former swimmer, stars in the ad for XX-XY Athletics, a company dedicated to defending women’s sports and ensuring fairness.
She’s joined by her sister, Neely, a Tennessee state gymnastics champion. Together, they appear in a commercial that has sparked significant conversation.
A Bold Statement Against Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports
The ad features Gaines and her sister listening to radio hosts who label their stance against trans women competing in women’s sports as “bigoted” and “transphobic.
” This mirrors the controversy Gaines stirred after competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the NCAA Championships.
Other female athletes are also featured in the ad, including Sia Liilii, a Nevada volleyball team co-captain.
Liilii gained attention for refusing to compete against a transgender player, an act that led to death threats, which are depicted in the ad.
The campaign is called “Real Girls Rock,” aimed at honoring those who have the courage to stand up for their beliefs.
The Ad: A Push for Courage and Real Strength
The commercial, which aired on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), showcases a powerful message of resilience.
It opens with athletes training in their respective sports while facing harsh criticism and threats for speaking out against transgender inclusion in women’s sports.
Radio hosts in the ad dismiss concerns, claiming the issue is merely “fearmongering” by “right-wing bigots.”
In one striking moment, Liilii is seen receiving hate messages on her phone, including one telling her to “just die.
” This moment underscores the personal toll that speaking out has had on athletes like her, who faced backlash for protesting against transgender inclusion, including a well-known incident where she and her team refused to compete against a team with a transgender player.
The ad wraps up with empowering messages like “Real Strength” and “Real Courage,” concluding with the bold statement: “Real Girls Rock.”
Endorsements and Support for the Campaign
Following the ad’s release, the campaign quickly gained notable support, including from author J.K. Rowling, who shared the clip on her social media.
She called it “the first and likely the last time I’ll retweet an ad, but I love it.”
The ad also features athletes like kickboxing champion Jaycee Bassett, who is also portrayed training while enduring abuse for her stance.
XX-XY founder Jennifer Sey shared that the ad was made to honor the athletes and highlight their courage, especially when larger brands shy away from taking such a stance.
Looking to the Future: A Super Bowl Ad?
Following the ad’s success, XX-XY Athletics is aiming high, hoping to raise $25 million through GoFundMe to air the ad during the Super Bowl.
Sey emphasized the company’s mission to promote fairness and equal opportunity in women’s sports, standing firm against the “false assertion” that male-bodied athletes don’t have physical advantages over women.
Gaines, who has been vocal nationwide about the issue and has even lobbied lawmakers in Washington, said she agreed to be part of the ad to honor the hard work and sacrifices of female athletes.
She added, “They work so hard, and now they have to put up with threats and bullying if they stand up for themselves.”
“Real girls really do rock,” Gaines declared, expressing her pride in the ad alongside her sister Neely.
“And this fight is not over. We’re just getting started.”
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