Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton and former swimmer Riley Gens gathered at the Missouri Library to listen to hundreds of families, sharing their stories while navigating obstacles to competing in women’s sports as transgender athletes.
As they shared their experiences from their athletic careers, Gens and Hamilton met with transgender activists in the program. Amidst the crowd, activists draped in transgender pride flags and themed clothing made their presence known despite occasional disruptions.
One activist was seen in a shark costume, poking fun at Hamilton, who survived a shark attack in 2003, resulting in the loss of her left arm. Despite the shark attack, Hamilton remained undeterred and returned to professional surfing.
“We’ve seen our workers almost every hour in our story. Sometimes they make noise, sometimes they wear worn-out clothes, but they were filthy,” said Trent Talbot, the CEO of Brave Books, to The Washington Examiner.
He continued, “The employee who came in dressed as a shark to target Bethany Hamilton is a terrifying person. Once again, those who claim to be the most tolerant often turn out to be the most ruthless.”