Sherman R. Frederick/Properly Subversive
The No. 1 news gathering entity in the world, the Associated Press, calls Riley Gaines a “swimmer turned anti-trans athlete activist.”
That description says more about the way AP sympathizes with trans athletes than it does Ms. Gaines’ activism, which I would say is far less aimed at trans athletes than it is at protecting women’s sports.
This month, Olympic champion Simone Biles wrote a mean tweet about Gaines, who had been critical of a “boy” being allowed to play on a Minnesota girls’ high school softball team.
AP wrote that Biles called Gaines “truly sick” and a “straight up sore loser” for picking on a trans athlete who has no control over the system. Biles concluded her tweet by saying: “Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”
Somehow, AP didn’t find that body-shaming slam by Biles worth reporting. Nor did it bother to delve into the hypocrisy of Biles, who once participated in a campaign to encourage women to be happy in their bodies, as she was once teased as a girl for having man-like muscles.
Now, I know I’m getting into the weeds of AP’s reporting on this particular issue, but in journalism, words do matter.
Calling Riley Gaines a “swimmer turned anti-trans athlete activist” instead of a more accurate term like, say, an “advocate for women’s sports” speaks to the bias built into AP’s reporting on this issue.
Look, I remain a fan of AP and its full body of work worldwide. But a little more soul searching on behalf of the rest of us on the language used on this particular social issue couldn’t hurt.
For example, the AP Stylebook currently advises writers to “Avoid terms like ‘biological sex,’ … Instead, use ‘sex assigned at birth.’”
Seriously, the AP splits hairs like that, but calls Riley Gaines a “swimmer turned anti-trans athlete activist?”
Where is the sensitivity and accuracy for Ms. Gaines?
That’s all I’m asking.
Postscript: Here’s the AP story I’m referring to. Note how it goes out of its way to cherry-pick what Biles said to make it look like she’s the reasonable one, and Gaines is the hard-core bad guy.
Updated 7:47 AM MST, June 13, 2025
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Two-time Olympic all-around champion Simone Biles has apologized for getting personal in a heated online exchange with former collegiate swimmer turned anti-trans athlete activist Riley Gaines.
Biles, an 11-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated gymnast of all-time, initially responded to a post by Gaines on the social media platform X after Gaines called a player on a Minnesota high school softball team “a boy.” Biles wrote that Gaines was “truly sick” and a “straight up sore loser,” comments Biles later retracted.
Biles wrote that the current system in sports doesn’t adequately address the balance between competitive equity and inclusivity and the discussion of the topic can lead to “frustration and heated exchanges.”
“It didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley,” Biles wrote.
Biles clarified that her main objection was that Gaines opted to single out an underage athlete, when that athlete has no control over what Biles called a “flawed system.”
“I believe sports organizations have a responsibility to come up with rules supporting inclusion while maintaining fair competition,” Biles posted. “We all want a future for sport that is fair, inclusive, and respectful.”
No Kings Day
Let’s be real: A lot of people turned out for the “No Kings Day” demonstrations against President Trump. All, no doubt, were people who voted against Trump in the last election. I went to the one near my place in Scottsdale. Read about it here.
A couple of Properly Subversive takeaways from what I saw in person and online:
- Most of the protesters were white and elderly.
- Fewer younger people took part.
- L.A. saw violence again, thanks to the leadership in that city that condones it by their inaction. Below is news coverage from L.A. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/M9IQ9H6yED0?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0
In Case You Missed It
Trump Said ‘No’
- President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after Israeli officials said they had an opportunity, according to a senior US official. — Bloomberg
Warning To Iran
- On social media on Sunday, President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran not to retaliate against U.S. targets in the Middle East, saying that the United States “had nothing to do with the attack on Iran” and would militarily use its “full strength and might” if attacked. Iran, meanwhile, has said it would hold the U.S. — which has provided Israel with much of its deep arsenal of weaponry — responsible for its backing of Israel. — Associated press
Boelter Captured
- BELLE PLAINE, Minn. (AP) — The man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another crawled to officers in surrender Sunday after they located him in the woods near his home, bringing an end to a massive, nearly two-day search that put the entire state on edge. Vance Boelter was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and two of attempted murder. He is accused of posing as a police officer and fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs.
Sniffin’ Da Web
Housekeeper Didn’t Show
- LOS ANGELES WOMAN SLAMS ICE: “I have friends texting me…my gardener didn’t show up, housekeeper didn’t show…farmer’s market is closed…everyone’s scared…you’re gonna have to do your own dishes, clean your own house, mow your own lawn!” — Ed Dougherty on X
Utah Shooting
- The shooter has been identified as Arturo Gamboa, 24. He opened fire at the Salt Lake City “No Kings” protest with an AR-style rifle and killed Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, 39 — an unarmed bystander with no weapon and no threat. — Tony Lane on X
Padilla Embarrassed Himself
- Every heterosexual man saw the Alex Padilla drama performance as embarrassing. You’re charging at a woman during a press conference to intentionally create a scene? Democrats are broken. — Clay Travis on X
Laugh a little, avoid soreheads, and always question authority
One More Thing
You can read more Properly Subversive at shermanfrederick.substack.com.
