In a move that has raised eyebrows, the Republican National Convention (RNC) has partnered with the American Principles Project (APP), a socially conservative activist group, and Orange County Choppers to offer a custom-made motorcycle as a raffle prize to attendees who oppose transgender athletes participating in competitive women’s sports.
The bike, painted in Kentucky blue in honor of former Division I swimmer Riley Gaines, features messages such as “Our Bodies Our Sports” and “XX ≠ XY,” highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding transgender participation in sports.
During the unveiling event, Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prominent Republican figure, expressed her dismay at the perceived shift in the Democratic party’s stance on women’s rights. “Democrats used to be the party of feminism. Democrats used to be the party of women’s rights. Now it’s completely changed,” she stated.
Terry Schilling, the head of APP, further fueled the controversy, describing the upcoming election as a battle between “crazy and normal” and criticizing the “gender industry” for allegedly having financial incentives to encourage youth identification as transgender.
Schilling’s remarks were met with a crowd that included MAGA acolytes in Trump hats, curious reporters, and even a Hasidic Jew clutching a book about the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s plan for Middle East peace.
The raffle event, which drew a diverse audience, highlights the ongoing polarization surrounding the issue of transgender athletes in competitive sports. As the RNC continues to cater to its base, the debate is likely to intensify, with the custom-made motorcycle serving as a symbolic gesture to those who oppose the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
