Collegiate swimming champion and anti-trans activist Riley Gaines is urging New Yorkers to vote against Proposition 1 on the ballot Tuesday “if you care about women and girls.”
Riley and other opponents of the proposed measure — which will appear on Election Day ballots statewide — claim that it could allow for biological males who identify as transgender to compete in women’s sports, and permit youths to get sexual reassignment surgery without parental notification or approval.
“If you care about women and girls. If you care about the safeguarding of children. If you care about parental rights… make sure you’re voting ‘No’ this November on Proposition 1,” Gaines said in a video being distributed by The Coalition to Protect Kids, a group opposed to Prop 1.
Gaines, who tied against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2022 NCAA Championships, has become an outspoken activist against biological men competing in women’s sports.
Supporters say the ballot measure would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution and protect New Yorkers against discrimination.
The proposal calls for equal rights based on “pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy,” though the word abortion does not appear in the text of the ballot question.
The measure also calls for equal rights based on “ethnicity, national origin” as well as “gender identity” and “gender expression.”
The fight over Prop 1 has been fierce.
Another anti-ballot group, the Vote No on Prop 1 Committee, released an interview Monday showing ex-Gov. David Paterson opposed the measure.
Paterson, during an Oct. 31 interview on 770 WABC’s the Cats & Cosby show, said Prop 1 “sets a pathway” for non-citizens to vote.
Get all the stories that move New York to your inbox
Sign up for our Metro Daily newsletter!
Thanks for signing up!
“In our country we’ve never just let people who come in and automatically become citizens. Nor have we ever just let people come in and give them rights under our constitution when they’re not citizens,” Paterson said.
“It’s not what it purports to be …I suggest that they not vote for it,” he said.
Paterson’s spokesman, however, said the ex-gov voted for the measure, contradicting last week’s radio interview.
The major pro-Prop 1 group — New Yorkers for Equal Rights Campaign — accused Gaines and Paterson of spreading lies.
“Anti-abortion extremists have been trying to distract New Yorkers from what Prop 1 actually does — protect abortion — with lies and misinformation,” said Equal Rights Campaign Director Sasha Ahuja.
“It is unfortunate that those lies have reached the former governor. In reality, Prop 1 will not change anything about voting rights in our state, but will protect abortion rights and protect New Yorkers from government discrimination,” Ahuja said. “We urge all New Yorkers to vote yes on Prop 1.”
Heading into Election Day, the Vote No on Prop 1 Committee spent about $7 million on TV and radio ads in a bid to block the proposed constitutional amendment.
The Coalition to Protect Kids spent another $500,000 as part of the opposition.
The pro-ballot group, New Yorkers for Equal Rights, has spent $5.1 million on voter outreach — including $3.97 million on TV ads, $585,000 on direct mail as well as money spent on door knocking and text messaging, according to a source.
Meanwhile, the state Democratic Committee closely aligned with Gov. Kathy Hochul has poured resources into the pro-Prop 1 effort.
“Your ballot has two sides. Remember to VOTE YES ON PROP 1 to protect abortion rights and prevent discrimination. New Yorkers can safeguard their rights,” the party said in a blast text Monday sent to voters.
