Damien Lehfeldt, a director on the USA Fencing board, recently found himself in a contentious hearing with Republican members regarding the participation of men in women’s fencing. His history of making somewhat sarcastic online comments about President Trump and the segregation of sports by gender has raised eyebrows. Alongside him at the hearing was Fatima Goss Graves, the CEO of the National Center for Women’s Law.
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) brought up an awkward social media post where Lehfeldt responded to parents concerned about their daughters competing against boys. In it, he seemingly dismissed their worries by stating he wouldn’t issue a formal resignation or apology for his stance. He later acknowledged it was an “inappropriate message” and expressed regret over it.
Further, Gill pointed out another post from a parent voicing that “daughters don’t want to compete with men in sports,” to which Lehfeldt responded with a somewhat cryptic remark about being “dug out of a myopic hole.” He later apologized for this comment too, admitting it was not suitable.
Lehfeldt faced scrutiny, including from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who explicitly asked whether he thought it appropriate for women to change in locker rooms with biological men present. Before he could answer, she pressed further, asking if he would want his daughter in that situation. Lehfeldt asserted that his daughter shouldn’t be part of this hearing, possibly indicating a discomfort with the ongoing debate.
Throughout the session, some of Lehfeldt’s social media activities were examined closely. Greene displayed a cropped photo aiming to misinterpret one of Lehfeldt’s gestures. On Instagram, he responded affirmatively to a question regarding whether it’s acceptable for cis women to face disadvantages, later expressing that he should’ve exercised better judgment in that instance.
Another House member, Rep. James Kommer (R-Ky.), posed a simple question to the panel comprising Lehfeldt, female fencer Stephanie Turner, and former volleyball player Payton McNabb. His inquiry was direct: should biological men compete in women’s sports? While the two women on the panel answered sharply with “no,” Lehfeldt’s stance seemed more nuanced, suggesting that compliance with certain requirements could allow it, indicating a reference to US fencing policies rather than any federal guidelines.
Graves supported Lehfeldt’s view, arguing that “trans women” ought to compete in fencing aligned with their gender identities.
