Fencing champion who took a knee responds to Team USA’s new transgender policy
Transgender Athlete Policy Changes in U.S. Sports Stephanie Turner recently had a conversation with Fox News Digital regarding the newly announced changes from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee concerning transgender athletes. This decision emerges a few months after Turner found himself in a challenging situation during a fencing match against a transgender competitor. The […]
Fencing organization updates transgender policy following debates about women’s competitions
USOPC to Follow Trump’s Executive Order on Sports Inclusion The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has stated its intention to adhere to President Donald Trump’s executive order regarding “excluding men from women’s sports.” This information was detailed on the USOPC Transgender Eligibility Policy page, which referenced the USOPC Athlete Safety Policy effective from July […]
USA Fencing revises transgender policy in light of debates surrounding women’s competitions
USA Fencing Updates Gender Eligibility Policy USA Fencing has revised its gender eligibility policy, allowing biological men to compete in women’s events after facing extensive criticism over the past few months. The organization announced that its policy now states that “Athletes who are female gender, provided all other entry criteria are met,” can compete in […]
Fencing officials take legal action against board following issues with a transgender athlete
Exclusive: Two members of the U.S. Fencing Board have filed a lawsuit against six other members. They allege that Chairman Damien Lefeld made false statements during a Congressional hearing on transgender athletes held by the Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee on May 7. The legal action, aimed at removing Lefeld as the USA Fencing Chair, was […]
USA Fencing is not providing details about the recent updates to its controversial policies.
USA Fencing has made two notable changes to its policies following a board vote last Saturday. These adjustments stem from ongoing discussions surrounding the organization’s stance on various socio-political issues. One of the new measures discourages holding events in states with laws viewed as anti-LGBTQ. The goal seems to be a more equitable approach to […]
USA Fencing updates its policies regarding LGBTQ-inclusive venues and the national anthem
The USA Fencing board has decided to revise its policy regarding host sites for events, emphasizing states that have LGBTQ-friendly laws. This change comes in response to criticism faced for penalizing a female fencer who refused to compete against transgender opponents. The scrutiny reached a height during a Congressional hearing earlier in May. The board […]
Rep. Gill Criticizes USA Fencing Chair for Equating Parents of Female Athletes to KKK Members
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) has criticized social media comments that liken parents of female athletes to Ku Klux Klan members, while also denouncing the chair of USA Fencing for referring to her daughter as “whims” for not wanting to compete against transgender athletes. During a hearing held by the House of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on […]
Controversy in USA Fencing escalates following DOGE hearing on transgender athletes
Just six weeks after women’s fencer Stephanie Turner was disqualified and removed from a tournament for kneeling in protest against her transgender competitor, the chair of USA Fencing faced tough questioning at a federal hearing. This hearing, which focused on the impact of the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, took place before Republican […]
Fencing director likened parents concerned about the safety of young girls to the Ku Klux Klan.
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 […]
Fencing organization’s chairman directly addresses lawmakers
Damien Lehfeldt, Chairman of USA Fencing, seemed to convey a clear message before his upcoming questioning by legislators regarding the participation of men in women’s sports. He’s slated to be among the witnesses at a House oversight session led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, alongside Subcommittee Chairman Tim Burchett and others, including Melanie Stansbury and […]