A female fencer who was disqualified from a tournament for refusing to face her transgender opponent expressed to Congress that she felt “betrayed” by the governing body of her sport, which she accused of deceiving her.
Stephanie Turner, 31, chose to kneel rather than compete against 20-year-old Redmond Sullivan, who was born male, at the Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland. Following this incident, she faced a year-long probation and decided to leave the sport.
She recounted her emotional turmoil before the match to the House committee, stating, “I cried all night and felt betrayed by American fencing.” Turner emphasized the investment she made in competition fees and training, expressing that she felt trapped and misled by USA Fencing.
Feeling isolated for opposing the transgender policy, she disclosed her fear of speaking out within the fencing community.
Damien Lefeld, Chair of USA Fencing, asserted in a blog that “transgender women are women,” expressing hope that Turner would reconsider her exit from the sport but declined to apologize when prompted by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).
Lefeld mentioned that Turner was welcome to participate in future tournaments, arguing that concerns about transgender athletes were minimal since competitions were primarily organized for women, yet also included mixed-gender events.
Turner criticized USA Fencing as “sneaky,” arguing that attributing losses to skill disparities avoided addressing the real issue of transgender competitors in women’s categories.
She claimed there was a culture of intimidation within the organization, discouraging women from speaking out against men competing against them.
During the hearing, GOP lawmakers praised Turner and a former volleyball player, Payton McNabb, for their courage, while also questioning Lefeld’s stance on the issue.
McNabb shared her feelings of “powerlessness” when faced with competing against a transgender individual during a high school volleyball game, recalling how her team felt unsupported in that situation.
She noted that her injuries as a result of that competition could have been avoided had the rights of female athletes been prioritized over the feelings of transgender individuals.
Democratic lawmakers engaged in discussions that often criticized Republican perspectives on gender in sports. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) took the opportunity to rename the doge subcommittee to the fencing oversight committee.
At the hearing’s conclusion, Stansbury recognized the challenges faced by Turner and McNabb but did not support any protections for women’s sports.
She expressed sympathy for their experiences but resisted being characterized by her GOP colleagues during the hearing.
Fatima Goss Graves, president of the National Center for Women’s Law, was also present, yet when pressed about physical differences between genders, she played down their significance.
In a tense moment, Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) challenged Graves about gender identity and women’s privacy in changing facilities, leading to a heated exchange.
This contentious hearing ultimately highlighted the deep divisions between the parties regarding transgender athletes and women’s rights.
