Concerns About Women’s Sports in Virginia Elections

A former NCAA swimmer from Virginia, Lily Mullens, recently expressed her deep concerns regarding the upcoming statewide elections and their potential impact on women’s sports. Mullens, a former captain at Roanoke College, discussed her worries after experiencing what she perceived as retaliation from university officials for opposing the inclusion of transgender athletes on her team.

In an interview, Mullens mentioned that her attempts to voice concerns about a transgender classmate—who was born biologically male but wanted to join the women’s varsity swim team—were largely ignored by the university’s administration. On the other hand, she noted that Republican officials in Virginia had rallied to support her and her teammates.

“Governor Youngkin personally reached out to me and the captains,” Mullens recounted, emphasizing how significant that was compared to the lack of support from her school’s administration. “It was shocking, but also heartening.” Virginia is approaching key elections, including races for governor and attorney general. With Governor Glenn Youngkin term-limited, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earl Sears is vying to maintain the Republican hold on the Governor’s Mansion against Democrat Abigail Spanberger.

Current Attorney General Jason Miyares is also running for re-election, facing off against Democrat Jay Jones, who has faced scrutiny due to incriminating text messages that have emerged.

Miyares noted earlier this year that he believed Roanoke College discriminated against Mullens and her teammates based on their gender following their concerns. While the university dismissed these claims as “unfounded,” the situation was sparked by a transgender student who had previously swum on the men’s team and wished to transition to the women’s team after undergoing hormone therapy.

At a swim team meeting to discuss this new swimmer’s potential participation, Mullens realized the administration was unlikely to take her concerns seriously. Reflecting on that moment, she described the meeting as focused on listening to the swimmer’s experiences, including distressing thoughts they had shared about suicide.

Mullens, who identifies as religious, shared her and her teammates’ initial confusion upon hearing about the swimmer’s struggles. “We didn’t know how to respond,” she said, recalling the emotional turmoil they felt.

Despite this, the school administration remained silent during the meeting, and mental health professionals were unaware of the situation until Mullens and her teammates brought it to light through a press conference. According to Miyares’ investigation, the fallout from this conference led to Mullens and her teammates being denied opportunities to study abroad, despite their strong academic records.

She noted that the explanations they received about the denials only added to their confusion, making little sense to them. “I didn’t understand what they meant,” she remarked. In her view, the university appeared to dismiss her concerns while providing support for transgender athletes.

“The correspondence we received seemed more focused on inclusivity, but it contradicted our experiences,” Mullens stated. “It felt hypocritical, like they were advocating for something while ignoring us.” She expressed a need for strong leadership that would firmly stand against policies she disagrees with.

Recently, Youngkin issued an executive order directing the state Board of Health to draft policies that would enforce gender segregation in sports and other facilities based on the sex assigned at birth. Mullens fears that if the new Democratic governor were to take office, similar directives could be revised or overturned under different leadership.

During the gubernatorial debate, Spanberger did not provide clarity on her stance regarding Youngkin’s recent executive order, while her opponent, Sears, made it clear he would uphold it.

Mullens also expressed worry about the ongoing attorney general race, particularly regarding Jay Jones, who has faced backlash over his inflammatory text messages. “It’s alarming that someone wanting to lead state law can make such statements,” she noted, highlighting the potential risks this poses to her and her peers.

Nevertheless, Mullens commended Miyares for his support during this turmoil. “We felt bullied,” she said, recounting the threats and harassment she received online. “When Attorney General Miyares said he would investigate our treatment, we were truly thankful.”