Former collegiate swimmer and conservative activist Riley Gaines spoke at the University of Memphis on Wednesday evening during a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event that drew a strong police presence, but no visible protests.
The event is part of Gaines' national campus speaking tour. Gaines, who has become an advocate for limiting transgender participation in women's sports, has frequently drawn protests at other universities.
A 12-time NCAA All-American, Gaines made national headlines back in 2022 while competing for the University of Kentucky after tying with Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete from the University of Pennsylvania, in the 200-yard NCAA freestyle championship.
University and Memphis Police Department officers lined the entrances and hallways of the University Center ahead of Gaines' speech, which focused on women's sports and gender identity issues. Officials also enforced a rule prohibiting commotion or demonstrations directly outside of the auditorium.
Although no protestors gathered before, during or after the event, the university appeared to take extra precaution with security measures following previous high-profile visits, including Kyle Rittenhouse's two appearances which both sparked protests and public backlash. Attendance was estimated at about 100 people inside the auditorium, a number larger than Rittenhouse's most recent appearance.
The event was organized quietly. TPUSA did not publicly release any information about Gaines' appearance until Oct. 23, less than two weeks before the event, and students were required to message the organization directly on Instagram to receive ticket information. Gaines also did not post about the appearance on her own social media pages prior to arriving on campus.
Media access to the event was also restricted. A Daily Helmsman photographer was denied entry with a camera by TPUSA staff despite no prior notice that photography would not be allowed.
Gaines opened her speech by referencing the recent assassination of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk.
“This is the first college campus back on the tour since Charlie Kirk’s assassination. To be totally honest with you, I was reluctant to put myself back in this position," said Gaines. “After witnessing, horrifically, what happened to Charlie, I was hesitant. Especially after stepping into a new role as a mom just five weeks ago.”
Gaines also discussed her own personal experiences that she said shaped her views, including her husband's years-long effort to obtain a green card. Gaines claimed that during the Biden administration, a COVID-19 vaccine mandate — which she called "ineffective and underresearched" — delayed his application, and that the issue was resolved after Trump returned to office. Public health officials, including the CDC, maintain that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and extensively researched.
“Praise God, Donald Trump was the 47th president,” Gaines said. “Within two hours, the nationwide vaccine mandate was gone."
The event concluded with a brief Q&A session where Gaines responded to several questions before exiting the stage to applause. The event ended without any disruptions, and campus police cleared the area shortly after.
While the program ended quietly, several students expressed concern about the university hosting a speaker known for her opposition to transgender inclusion in sports. Olivia Cousar, a junior graphic design major and publicity coordinator for Stonewall Tigers, said she respected Gaines' right to speak on campus but disagreed with her message.
“I totally respect freedom of speech and think anyone should be able to come to campus and express their opinions openly,” Cousar said. “The problem I have is that, at least from what I’ve seen, Riley Gaines has a tendency to dispense hate speech, which is something I’m not entirely a fan of.”
Cousar, who is a trans woman, said she personally feels safe on campus most of the time but has still faced occasional hostility.
“I’ve definitely had some weird looks and some people say not-great things to me,” she said. “During the day, when regular classes are in session, this campus is one of the places where I feel the most safe, but there are times and places where it’s definitely not safe to be a trans person.”
She also noted that many transgender students have struggled to change their names in university systems, leading to their "dead names" to appear on class rosters or graduation materials.
No additional TPUSA events are currently scheduled on campus. The university has not released a statement regarding the event or security measures.
Jaylon Lee Hawkins can be contacted at jlhwkns3@memphis.edu.
Giovanna Rodriguez and Heidi Wills contributed to this article.
I am a junior Journalism major with an emphasis in Broadcasting. I’ve reported for The Daily Helmsman for two years and currently serve as the Managing Editor, overseeing coverage and guiding our newsroom’s editorial direction.
