Feminine Fencer Booted From Event for Refusing to Compete In opposition to Transgender Opponent

A feminine fencer unafraid to face as much as a transgender-identifying male competing towards her has been disqualified from a match in Maryland.

Stephanie Turner, a younger girl from the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia, refused to compete towards Redmond Sullivan, a male who identifies as a transgender feminine. The Every day Mail reported in December that, after Sullivan switched to competing on the ladies’s group, the athlete clenched the highest prize on the Connecticut Division Junior Olympic Qualifiers final yr.

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Realizing Sullivan’s historical past — and biology — Turner was unwilling to compete.

In protest, Turner took a knee, refusing to fence towards Sullivan, and, consequently, was offered with a black card, which disqualified her from your entire match. Officers for the match recorded Turner’s participation as “DNF” — or “didn’t end” — handing a forfeit victory to Sullivan.

Bryan Wendell, director of communications for USA Fencing, advised The Every day Wire Turner’s disqualification “was not associated to any private assertion however was merely the direct results of her resolution to say no to fence an eligible opponent, which the [International Fencing Federation] guidelines clearly prohibit.”

“USA Fencing is obligated to observe the letter of these guidelines and be sure that individuals respect the requirements set on the worldwide degree,” he continued. “We stay dedicated to inclusivity inside our sport whereas additionally upholding each requirement dictated by our governing physique.”

A clip of Turner protesting instantly went viral and garnered outcomes from many on social media.

Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and outspoken advocate for the safety of ladies’s sports activities, praised Turner for her protest.

Conservative political commentator and podcaster Megyn Kelly merely known as Turner a “heroine.”

“That is what occurs when feminine athletes protest!” wrote Martina Navratilova, an expert tennis star, in a publish to X. “Anybody right here nonetheless assume that is honest??? I’m fuming… and disgrace on USA Fencing. Disgrace on you for doing this.”

This comes simply weeks after California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a leftist Democrat, admitted to conservative commentator Charlie Kirk that males competing in girls’s sports activities is “deeply unfair.”