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Fencer Receives Award After Protest Against Transgender Athlete Participation
A female fencer, Stephanie Turner, has been recognized with an award and monetary prize after she refused to compete against a transgender woman at a recent USA Fencing tournament. Turner’s action, a deliberate protest against transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, has ignited further debate about inclusivity and fairness in athletic competitions. The fencing athlete’s stance led to her disqualification from the event but has also garnered support from groups advocating for single-sex sports.
Fencer’s Protest and Disqualification
Last month, Stephanie Turner was scheduled to compete against Redmond Sullivan at a USA Fencing tournament held at the University of Maryland on March 30. In a move of protest, Turner knelt and declared her refusal to participate in the match.
Tournament officials subsequently issued Turner a black card. This penalty resulted in her immediate expulsion from the competition and suspension for its duration.
“Courage Wins Award” and Financial Compensation
Turner’s protest thrust her into the ongoing national conversation surrounding transgender athletes in sports. XX-XY Athletics, an organization identifying itself as dedicated to women’s sports advocacy, presented Turner with the “Courage Wins Award.” The award includes a $5,000 prize and enrollment in a leadership development program.
Jennifer Sey, founder of XX-XY Athletics, lauded Turner’s actions in a press release, stating, “By taking a knee, she became more powerful than any male. She stood her ground to fight for women’s sports. She is a hero.”
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XX-XY Athletics’ Stance
Sey further elaborated on the organization’s mission: “We aim to mitigate the impact of financial repercussions and provide a platform for these women, welcoming them into a supportive community. They will have backing; they will not be isolated.”
XX-XY Athletics, which also counts anti-transgender activist Riley Gaines as a representative, previously honored volleyball player Sia Liilii with the same award. Liilii spearheaded her University of Nevada team’s boycott of a game against San Jose State University due to the presence of a transgender player, Blaire Fleming, on their roster.
The organization’s name, XX-XY Athletics, alludes to female (XX) and male (XY) chromosomes and reflects their core belief. Their website declares, “We are here to protect women’s sports and spaces. Women deserve the opportunities that sports and single-sex spaces provide. Sex matters. It is the single biggest determinant of athletic performance. It is unfair and dangerous to allow males (XY) to compete in girls’ and women’s (XX) sports.”
Their statement continues, “For women to compete safely and fairly, women’s sports need to remain female. We will be here defending truth, and women and girls, until that happens.”
USA Fencing’s Response and Policy
Addressing the incident, USA Fencing released a statement asserting that Turner’s disqualification was “not related to any personal statement” but was a “direct result of her decision to decline to fence an eligible opponent, which the FIE [International Fencing Federation] rules clearly prohibit.”
Despite this, USA Fencing reiterated its commitment to transgender inclusion in the sport. “USA Fencing enacted our current transgender and non-binary athlete policy in 2023. The policy was designed to expand access to the sport of fencing and create inclusive, safe spaces,” the organization explained.
The statement further noted, “The policy is based on the principle that everyone should have the ability to participate in sports and was based upon the research available of the day.”
Acknowledging the evolving nature of the debate, USA Fencing added, “We understand that the conversation on equity and inclusion pertaining to transgender participation in sport is evolving. USA Fencing will always err on the side of inclusion, and we are committed to amending the policy as more relevant evidence-based research emerges, or as policy changes take effect in the wider Olympic & Paralympic movement.”
Turner’s Concerns and Context
In a prior interview, Turner expressed apprehension about voicing her concerns to USA Fencing, citing the pro-transgender stance of officials within the organization. She articulated fears of biased officiating and potential social repercussions for speaking out.
Turner explained her previous strategies: “So what I was doing already was just avoiding tournaments where I knew there was a transgender fencer. But at this point, what else should I do? Should I just not sign up for any tournaments? I have no other options.”
Redmond Sullivan ultimately finished 24th out of 39 participants in the competition.
Similar Protests in Other Sports
Abigail Wilson, a disc golfer, staged a similar protest at a tournament in Nashville, Tennessee, also last month. Wilson declined to compete against a transgender opponent, proclaiming, “Females must be protected in our division. This is unfair. I refuse to play.”
Wilson elaborated on her stance, stating, “Today I refused to play at the Music City Open. Females deserve to have their gender-protected division be protected. This is unfair…I have worked so hard to get to this point to play on the DGPT, but the sacrifice of my career and my hard work is worth it if it means I can make a difference for other women, daughters, nieces, and the future of our sport.”
Executive Order and Broader Implications
The issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports gained further prominence after President Trump’s executive order in February, which restricts transgender women from competing in female sports categories. The order threatens to withhold federal funding from non-compliant schools. This has already impacted the University of Pennsylvania, which reportedly had $175 million in federal funds frozen.
President Trump defended the order, stating, “The radical left has waged an all-out campaign to erase the very concept of biological sex and replace it with a militant transgender ideology. With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over.”
Background: Transgender Athletes in College Sports
In 2022, transgender swimmer Lia Thomas drew national attention for competing on the women’s team and achieving significant success, including setting records. However, NCAA President Charlie Baker testified last year before a Senate committee that he was aware of fewer than 10 transgender athletes across all college sports.