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Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Who Is Damien Lehfeldt? USA Fencing Chief Attacked Over Transgender Rules
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Damien Lehfeldt, of the organization USA Fencing, testified in Congress yesterday during a hearing which examined the participation of transgender women in sport. He was questioned by House Republicans on his views on the matter, which has become one of the most contentious issues in sport. He said that transgender participation in fencing posed no greater safety risks than single or mixed-gender participation. Newsweek has reached out to USA Fencing via email for comment outside of regular working hours. Why It Matters The hearing comes amid a broader conversation about transgender women in sport, which is playing out across the world. Since his reelection, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order which banned transgender female athletes from competing in women's or girls' sports. Organizations such as the English Football Association, the regulatory body for soccer in the country, have put in place similar bans. USA Fencing board director Damien Lehfeldt speaks during the hearing on 'Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" at the U.S. Capitol on May 7, 2025. in Washington, DC. USA Fencing board director Damien Lehfeldt speaks during the hearing on 'Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" at the U.S. Capitol on May 7, 2025. in Washington, To Know Lehfeldt spoke at the at the hearing on "Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" held by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee at the U.S. Capitol. The decision from House Republicans to subpoena Lehfeldt follows an incident in March of this year. During USA Fencing's Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland on March 30, a fencer named Stephanie Turner took a knee rather than competing against a 20-year-old transgender woman, Redmond Sullivan. Turner forfeited the match and was hit with a 12-month probation period from the sport. USA Fencing rules stipulate that a fencer cannot refuse to compete against any qualified fencer who has entered a tournament. Any fencer who violates this rule is then automatically placed on a 12-month probation. The current policy of USA Fencing, which has been in place since 2023 allows transgender and nonbinary individuals to compete "in a manner consistent with their gender identity/ expression, regardless of the gender associated with the sex they were assigned at birth." Lehfeldt was questioned on this policy in Congress by lawmakers including Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy Mace. Who Is Stephanie Turner? Turner is a 31-year-old fencer. The video of her refusing to compete against Sullivan went viral, and she has been commended by figures including J.K. Rowling and Mace, both of whom are known for their vocal opinions on trans people, for her decision not to compete. Turner told Fox News of her decision, "When I took the knee, I looked at the ref and I said, 'I'm sorry, I cannot do this. I am a woman, and this is a man, and this is a women's tournament. And I will not fence this individual." Speaking to the House DOGE subcommittee, she said that she felt betrayed by USA Fencing. "I had been defrauded of a women's tournament and sold a lie by USA Fencing she said." Turner added that she felt "isolated" and "strangled," by USA Fencing for disagreeing with their transgender policy. Who Is Damien Lefheldt? Lehfeldt is the chair of the board of directors for USA Fencing, which is the national governing body which oversees fencing in the U.S. He was elected to the organization's board of directors in 2023 and has served as chair since 2024. He has expressed support for transgender women in sport, though USA Fencing's policy on transgender women predates his position on the board. In a statement shared at the subcommittee, Lehfeldt said: "USA Fencing has long sponsored mixed-gender competitions in which men and women freely compete against each other. Indeed, the majority of USA Fencing tournaments—particularly at the local level—are mixed-gender competitions." The statement continued: "That significant body of experience has taught us that mixed-gender competition, in fencing at least, does not pose any significant safety risks above and beyond single-gender fencing competition. The same is true for fencing involving transgender participation." Lehfeldt's involvement in fencing spans decades. He began his journey as a young épée fencer, competing through his college years at Brandeis University and participating in events like the Maccabi Games. He later moved into coaching, including a tenure at the Richmond Fencing Club. What People Are Saying J.K. Rowling, the writer on X: "This woman will go down in sporting history as a heroine and USA Fencing will be remembered for their profound misogyny for forcing her and other women, into this situation." Shane Diamond, GLAAD's director of communications and transgender advocacy, said in an email shared with Newsweek: "Sport is a human right and should remain open and accessible to anyone who wants to participate, inclusive of their gender identity. " Representative Nancy Mace on X: "I asked if Fencing's Chair Damein Lehfeldt would apologize to women's fencing hero Stephanie Turner. For how they treated her for standing up for herself and standing against men in women's fencing. He refused. Real men protect women. This guy ain't one." Damien Lehfeldt, Chair of the Board of Directors of USA Fencing in a statement: "USA Fencing is committed to fairness, safety, and integrity. Those remain the organization's guiding principles. USA Fencing also is committed to complying with its obligations under the law. If the law and evidence around this issue change, so, too, will USA Fencing's policies." Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene on X: "I asked if USA Fencing's Chair Damien Lehfeldt would want his daughter changing in front of a man. He couldn't say "NO." That tells you EVERYTHING. These people have lost all common sense." What's Next Trump's executive order has reshaped transgender inclusion in sports. The future remains uncertain and the debate over fairness, inclusion, and athlete rights continues.
New York Post
07-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Female fencer who took a knee rather than face trans athlete recalls ‘betrayal' by sport's boss: ‘I cried the whole night'
A female fencer who was disqualified from a tournament after refusing to compete against a transgender opponent told members of Congress Wednesday she 'felt betrayed' by the sport's governing body, who she said had 'defrauded' her and 'sold a lie.' Stephanie Turner, 31, took a knee instead of fencing against Redmond Sullivan, a 20-year-old who was born biologically male, at USA Fencing's Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland on March 30. In addition to forfeiting the match, Turner was hit with a 12-month probation period, causing her to step away from the sport. Advertisement The night before the scheduled match against Sullivan, Turner recalled to the House DOGE subcommittee, 'I cried the whole night and again felt betrayed by USA Fencing.' 'I had already spent the money on competition fees and new equipment, and spent hours training and refurbishing my equipment,' she explained. 'I felt trapped. I had been defrauded of a women's tournament and sold a lie by USA Fencing.' 'I had felt so isolated and strangled by USA Fencing for disagreeing with this transgender policy that I felt scared to speak openly, online, or with friends in the fencing community.' Advertisement USA Fencing Chair Damien Lehfeldt, who claimed in an August 2023 blog post that 'transgender women are women and gender is not sex' said that he hopes Turner reconsiders her time away from fencing — but declined to apologize when prompted by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC). 5 Payton McNabb was previously a guest at President Trump's speech to Congress in March. AP 'Miss Turner … remains free to enter tournaments and free to compete,' he said. Lehfeldt also argued that concerns over transgender athletes in fencing are moot because USA Fencing also puts on mixed gender competitions — even though the event in which Turner and Sullivan were matched was specifically for women and not mixed-gender. Advertisement Turner accused USA Fencing of being 'unbelievably demeaning' by attributing female losses to transgender competitors to a 'skill issue.' 'Within the USA Fencing authoritative body, there is a culture of intimidation towards women which demands that we be silent when men enter our tournaments,' she added. 'A culture that includes public humiliation, doxxing, social ostracization, dismissal and even threats.' GOP lawmakers on the panel took turns showering praise on Turner and her fellow witness, former volleyball player Payton McNabb, for their 'bravery,' while delivering stern rebukes of Lehfeldt. 5 Stephanie Turner ripped into USA Fencing's treatment of her concerns about transgender competition. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement 'Female athletes should never be forced to compete against mentally ill, biological men who parade around in women's clothes,' subcommittee chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) stressed during the hearing. 'No one is here today to harm transgenders,' she added. 'We are here to defend girls and women, and we are here to defend Title IV and to uphold President Trump's executive order that all biological males stay out of girls and women's sports.' McNabb was knocked out during a high school volleyball game three years ago after a transgender rival spiked a ball in her face — and recounted feeling 'helpless' when she found out a biological male was being allowed to compete. 5 USA Fencing board director Damien Lehfeldt had been an outspoken defender of the sport organization's transgender policies. Getty Images 'Neither my team nor the administration agreed that we should be playing against a male,' she said. 'But the game went on.' Since her initial injury, McNabb has suffered a concussion, vision problems and partial paralysis, among other health ailments. 'It is completely aggravating because the injury I suffered was 100% avoidable if only my rights as a female athlete had been more important than a man's feelings,' said McNabb, who is now an ambassador for the Independent Women's Forum. 5 Stephanie Turner dished on the anguish she went through when she decided to protest against a transgender rival. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement Meanwhile Democrats repeatedly tried to undercut the hearing and needle Republicans for have the DOGE panel look into transgenderism. 'We're not even gonna call it the DOGE subcommittee anymore. This is called the Fencing Oversight Committee,' Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), the top Democrat on the panel, chided at one point after unsuccessfully trying to adjourn the hearing early. At the end of the hearing, Stansbury acknowledged Turner's and McNabb's experiences, but declined to call for women's sports to be protected. 'I am genuinely sorry to hear that both of our young lady witnesses who are here today had horrible experiences,' she said. 'And I want to acknowledge that … but I don't need a bunch of GOP, Republican colleagues mansplaining at me for three hours.' Advertisement Democrats brought Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women's Law Center, as their chief witness. When pressed about the physical differences between men and women by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Goss Graves downplayed the distinctions. 5 The DOGE subcommittee hearing on female sports devolved into a bitter, partisan slugfest. Getty Images 'I think where you're trying to go is, is there an inherent … difference between men and women in all contexts? And the answer is no,' she said during a tense exchange. Advertisement Mace, who like McClain was granted permission to join the hearing despite not being on the panel, also grilled Goss Graves. 'Mrs. Goss Graves, do women have penises,' a stern-looking Mace asked, with her glasses perched halfway down her nose. 'Should young girls just get used to penises in their locker rooms and showers?' After getting cut off from answering, Goss Graces shot back, 'You don't even know what you're talking about.' Mace later chided, 'That's what you all are — groomers.'
Fox News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
USA Fencing prepares to change transgender policy amid federal probe, backlash after athlete's kneel protest
USA Fencing announced Thursday that it is preparing to change its gender-eligibility policy, after a viral protest by women's fencer Stephanie Turner sparked mass backlash and federal intervention by protesting a trans opponent. The organization said it is preparing to amend its current policies that allow biological males to compete with women and girls in the event that it is "forced" to change it. "In the event that USA Fencing is forced to change its current stance in accordance with oversight bodies or federal legislation, the new policy states athletes competing in USA Fencing-sanctioned tournaments must compete according to their biological sex," the announcement read. The proposed updated policy ensures that women's category "will be open exclusively to athletes of the female sex." The men's category "will be open to all other athletes who are otherwise eligible for competition." The change would go into effect across sanctioned competition levels, including Division I, IA, II, III, Junior, Cadet, Youth, Veteran and all other categories. If adopted, this policy is solely to ensure future compliance required by oversight organizations. This policy does not reflect any change in our strong support for each individual's right to identity," the announcement read. "We recognize that many people — particularly transgender and non-binary athletes and their supporters in fencing clubs nationwide — will be profoundly impacted if this policy takes effect." Turner spoke out against the organization and its prepared rule change to Fox News Digital. "USA Fencing is pretending they need outside permission to follow federal law that guarantees fair competition and equal opportunities for women. They know their current policy allowing men to take women's national and world titles is unjust, yet instead of taking responsibility, they are passing the buck to the USOPC, an ideologically captured organization," Turner said. "This results in a cowardly stance with no urgency for change. By admitting the policy is wrong but refusing to fix it, they further insult women. As we head toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, it is long past time for both the USFA and USOPC to enforce policies that protect the women's category for female athletes and stop deflecting responsibility." The organization came under immense global scrutiny after a video of Turner kneeling to protest trans competitor Redmon Sullivan at the Cherry Blossom Open, and then getting disqualified, went viral in early April. DOGE subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene announced a hearing addressing the organization's gender eligibility policies that allow biological male transgender athletes to compete in the women's category. And Education Secretary Linda McMahon previously announced that the newly formed Title IX investigations team will be probing the incident involving Turner and trans competitor Redmond Sullivan. Meanwhile, Turner is stepping away from the sport after being dealt a 12-month probation for refusing to face Sullivan. USA Fencing has confirmed to Fox News Digital that Turner is under probation for the next 12 months after receiving a black card for the forfeit. She may still compete in events under the probation but is choosing not to. "I'm going to be taking a break from fencing for a while in the U.S. circuit, so that's a little bit of a disruption for me. . . . It has disrupted my training, it has disrupted my interactions when I go out in public, and it will certainly disrupt my competition because I won't be competing in the United States any time soon," she told Fox News Digital. The organization first enacted its current trans-inclusion policy in 2023. It allows transgender athletes to compete in the women's category at both the junior and senior level after completing one calendar year of testosterone-suppression treatment. Proof of compliant hormone therapy must be provided prior to competition, but the organization has taken even further steps to prioritize its trans competitors. In November 2022, it announced a policy to give preference when selecting host cities for national tournaments to states without laws that "harm members of LGBTQ communities" and states that do not "have laws undermining the reproductive health of women." That policy went into effect during the 2023 season, the same year it changed its gender policy. It later released a list of states that it intended to "avoid where possible" and the states that it flat out would not allow to host major events. In December, the nonprofit Fair Fencing Organization penned an open letter to USA Fencing board members, urging the re-evaluation of its stance on several issues, including transgender inclusion. Just days later, however, board members voted against several motions to approve an all-female task force to re-evaluate and revise the current transgender policy, in an 8-3 vote. Now, after siding against women fencers seeking protection from trans inclusion, USA Fencing finds itself with a global controversy after Turner's viral protest. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Fox News
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Stephanie Turner steps away from USA Fencing career as she's put on probation after protesting trans athlete
EXCLUSIVE: Women's fencer Stephanie Turner's protest kneel against Redmond Sullivan will be her last memory on the strip, for a while. The 31-year-old Maryland native is stepping away from the sport after being dealt a 12-month probation by USA Fencing over her recent refusal to fence Sullivan at the Cherry Blossom Open on March 30. Turner knelt on camera, refusing to fence because Sullivan is a trans athlete. Turner was then dealt a black card and escorted out. The footage of her kneeling sparked so much attention that it prompted a federal investigation into USA Fencing. USA Fencing has now confirmed to Fox News Digital that Turner is under probation for the next 12 months after receiving a black card for the forfeit. She can still compete in events under the probation but is choosing not to. "I'm going to be taking a break from fencing for a while in the U.S. circuit, so that's a little bit of a disruption for me… It has disrupted my training, it has disrupted my interactions when I go out in public, and it will certainly disrupt my competition because I won't be competing in the United States any time soon," she told Fox News Digital when asked if her expectation that taking the knee would "destroy her life," came true. Instead, Turner will focus on her new mission in the movement to ban trans athletes from women's sports. "I will remain in the public eye for as long as it takes to resolve this," she said. Her recent interactions with friends have been difficult, saying she now gets "dirty looks" from them, and some do not even look at her at all. Turner previously told Fox News Digital that some of her friends were in the "LGBT" community and did not know she believed biologically male trans athletes should not compete in women's sports. "I'm aware of some of the negative comments that my friends have had, I'm mindful to give them enough space, but I'm sure that, in the future, considering I believe this policy and this ideology to be unsustainable, they'll come around eventually," Turner said. However, one of Turner's biggest concerns has not come to fruition. After footage of the kneeling was first released, she previously told Fox News Digital she was worried about losing her job. That has not happened. Turner's kneel has instead called into question the job security of other individuals, after widespread backlash against USA Fencing and even potential government sanctions. President Donald Trump's administration has launched an investigation into the situation, which will be carried out by the newly-formed federal Title IX investigations team in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Education. "The nation watched as a female competitor bravely took a knee and forfeited an inherently unfair fencing match after discovering that her opponent was a male," Education spokeswoman Julie Hartman told Fox News Digital. "The Trump Administration's Department of Education and the Department of Justice's Title IX Special investigations team will not allow recipients of federal funding to deny women's equal opportunity protections under the law." USA Fencing has told Fox News Digital that it is willing to cooperate in the investigation. Turner will look to mount the federal pressure on the organization as well while she is not competing. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Tuesday announced a hearing addressing USA Fencing's gender eligibility policies and the incident involving Turner and Redmond. Turner says she will be attending to testify against USA Fencing. "I don't envy the opposition," Turner said. "I hope the exposure to this issue that they have been desperately trying to cover up encourages them to change direction on the policy of allowing men in women's sports… I don't want to see anybody punished beyond resolving the policy and ensuring female exclusivity in women's sports." Additionally, Turner plans to do whatever else is asked her of as a public figure to bring more public attention, and pressure to politicians, sports institutions, or anyone else fighting to keep trans athletes in women's sports. That even means making new friends with women's sports rights activists, including Riley Gaines. Turner will appear on OutKick's "Gaines for Girls" podcast this week. The episode will feature Turner arguing against the notion that males do not have a physical advantage in fencing, and she will open up to the woman who has directly influenced her current political beliefs. As a former registered Democrat, Turner says the incident that made her first start to shift her political views to becoming a "new Republican conservative" was witnessing Gaines have to face biologically male trans swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA women's swimming championships. It was an incident that pushed Turner to the other side of the political spectrum, not just on that singular issue, but it made her question the Democrat platform on every other key issue as well. "I became concerned about politicians deliberately lying to push a policy they knew would hurt women and girls, it made me wonder 'how much else you could be lying to me about?' So from there I turned much of my attention to media that was more conservative-leaning, and I find it I'm [now] more favorable to their policies on economics, social issues, foreign policy and the border," Turner said. Now, Turner will get to take part in conservative media herself, as she takes a central role in the cause she watched with passion from a distance, before hopping right into it in the past month. "I'm excited about the future for the first time in women's sports for a few years," Turner said, crediting the movement. "I think it's picking up speed, and we might see a resolution this year." Meanwhile, USA Fencing will likely face continued scrutiny from the public and federal arbitrators in the coming months after Turner's viral stunt. However, the organization has so far defended its policies and the decision to put Turner on probation. "Stephanie Turner's black card was issued in accordance with the same policy and procedures that apply to all black cards at USA Fencing-sanctioned events. Under our rules, a black card results in a probationary period for 12 months — a standard action specified by our policy," a USA Fencing spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "This does not affect Ms. Turner's membership status, and she remains eligible to compete in future tournaments. We treat every black card consistently, regardless of the circumstances leading to it, in line with USA Fencing's established guidelines." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘My Entire Life Is Political': Trans Fencer Attacked by Conservative Outrage Machine Speaks Out
For more than a week, conservative news outlets and right-wing corners of social media have championed Stephanie Turner, 31, a fencer who took a knee and removed her mask to forfeit a tournament duel against Red Sullivan, 19, a transgender woman. But most discourse around the incident — in which Turner was disqualified by a USA Fencing referee with a 'black card' for refusing to compete against an eligible opponent — has obscured important context. Sullivan was reluctant to speak to journalists amid the concocted uproar, she tells Rolling Stone, as she was disheartened by inaccurate, unscientific, and hostile press. 'My entire life is political,' she says, mentioning just how many articles Fox News has written about her and Turner — at least a dozen to date — and that she is currently reading Manufacturing Consent by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky, which famously argues that American mass media serves to disseminate propaganda. 'There are a million things more important than to talk about a silly little fencing tournament in Maryland,' she says, let alone a specific bout between 'two people, neither of whom were going to win the event.' More from Rolling Stone How to Watch UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes The Masters Livestream: How to Watch the Golf Tournament Without Cable Here's Why Streaming DIRECTV via Internet Is One of the Best Ways to Watch MLB Games This Season Days after Turner's performative exit on March 30 from the annual Cherry Blossom Open tournament at the University of Maryland, footage of the display went viral on social media. In the clip, Sullivan approaches Turner, thinking that she might be hurt, before her opponent says that she won't fence. In an interview with Fox News, Turner explained her actions while misgendering Sullivan, saying, 'I looked at the ref and I said, 'I'm sorry, I cannot do this. I am a woman, and this is a man, and this is a women's tournament. And I will not fence this individual.'' By that point, video of her protest had been shared by groups such as the Independent Council on Women's Sports, which advocates against trans women in sports, and author J.K. Rowling, who is known for her staunchly transphobic views. 'What a heroine looks like,' Rowling wrote of Turner. Turner said on Fox that she had for a while known that she would forfeit a duel if up against a transgender woman, and made a habit of avoiding tournaments where a trans athlete might be registered, claiming that Sullivan had signed up for the Cherry Blossom after her. Turner further predicted that backing out of the duel with Sullivan 'will probably, at least for the moment, destroy my life.' It did not. In addition to her accolades from the many journalists, celebrities, and influencers behind today's moral panic over trans inclusion in sports, Turner received a $5,000 prize and was named a 'Courage Wins Champion' by XX-XY Athletics, a sportswear brand that also opposes transgender athletes competing in women's sports. The company said it was inducting her into a leadership program as well. However, unlike many sports, it's not uncommon for fencers to train or compete in co-ed settings. In fact, just a week prior to the Maryland tournament, Turner had entered a 'mixed' event at the Swarthmore College Phoenix Cup — and defeated four different cisgender male opponents, ultimately placing 8th out of 32 fencers. As for the Cherry Blossom, Sullivan remained in the contest and won two out of six bouts, placing 24th out of 39 fencers. A sophomore at Wagner College in New York, Sullivan tells Rolling Stone that 'fencing is an esoteric sport' that is difficult to understand from outside the community. In fencing clubs, she says, it's understood that 'you can get something from practicing with anyone and everyone,' mostly regardless of gender or age, and that 'the goal is to fence most people there.' She adds: '12-year-olds come up and ask to fence me regularly, and I will regularly lose to certain 12-year-olds' who are especially well-trained or talented. 'Fencing is not a measure of pure strength,' she notes, nor is body size an obvious advantage: U.S. Olympic champion fencer Lee Kiefer, she says, is only five-foot-four-inches tall, but routinely defeats significantly taller rivals due to her timing and accuracy. Sullivan, who has been fencing for six years and calls herself a 'mid' competitor, entered men's and mixed events from 2021 through mid-2023. She first became medically eligible for women's tournaments in the fall of 2024. Since President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning trans women in women's sports, with the NCAA accordingly changing their rules to permit only those assigned female at birth in women's college athletics, she has not fenced for her former women's college team, which she joined and was active in last semester. 'I was bewildered — flabbergasted, even,' Sullivan says of the moment when Turner refused to duel her, in what she describes as a staged and unnecessary stunt recorded by at least two people present. She recalls saying, 'Bro, what,' when she heard Turner's remarks. 'Nothing close to this has ever happened. No one has ever had a problem with me fencing in a women's event,' Sullivan says. 'She could have withdrawn herself from the tournament, or talked to the organizers and said, 'Hey, I do not want to fence this person,' and seen if they could have reshuffled the pools. She actively chose to have this interaction and film it and then send it to people to post it.' The original viral posts about the clip on social platform X, she observes, included Sullivan's full name, but avoided naming Turner, whose identity was not public until she began talking to Fox News. As such, Sullivan was far more exposed to the public. 'On any day of the week, no one would care about the outcome of a fencing tournament,' Sullivan says. 'The only reason people care about this is because the adjective 'trans' has been attached.' She laughs off a Fox anchor's incorrect suggestion that the tournament was an Olympic qualifying event. 'It was nowhere near that,' she says. 'It's a regional event, which basically matters for only regional points, and for most people, they're for funsies.' She also contests Turner's claim that she had seen their pool matchup scheduled the night before the tournament. 'The pools weren't posted until 10 minutes before we started fencing on the day of the event,' she says. Attempts to reach Turner's rep for comment were unsuccessful. Charles X. Wang, an attorney and board member of the nonprofit Fair Fencing Organization (FFO) who wrote on Facebook that he was 'proud to represent Turner' in the matter of her disqualification, did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone's request for comment. FFO in February announced a crowdfunding campaign to mount a class-action lawsuit against USA Fencing over a litany of complaints, including 'wrongful application of DEI policies.' USA Fencing has so far stood by the decision to eject Turner from the Cherry Blossom, which will not affect her eligibility for future events. The expulsion, they said in a statement, 'was not related to any personal statement but was merely the direct result of her decision to decline to fence an eligible opponent, which the [International Fencing Federation] rules clearly prohibit. USA Fencing is obligated to follow the letter of those rules and ensure that participants respect the standards set at the international level.' The Cherry Blossom Open is a non-collegiate tournament, and Sullivan had met USA Fencing's hormone requirements for trans athletes to compete in a women's event. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has said he will investigate the organization, as did Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Sen. Ted Cruz also wrote a letter attacking USA Fencing's inclusion policies. Republicans and far-right agitators have spared no effort in demonizing the vanishingly tiny fraction of trans athletes among sporting associations around the world, even in games like disc golf and darts. Sullivan finds it absurd. 'Darts, what trans advantage is there?' she asks. 'You're throwing a tiny little thing at a board.' She says she's 'been aware' that she could be targeted the same way, and that after the aborted face-off with Turner, 'I knew I was cooked.' Sullivan had already attracted the attention of anti-trans groups in December, when the faux-feminist transphobia site Reduxx published a post about her winning a women's Junior Olympics qualifier. 'While it sounds super prestigious, it's not,' Sullivan says. 'It's just a national tournament with kind of different branding.' She was friends with almost everyone in the tournament, she says, including the woman to whom she nearly lost in the finals. On Fox News, Turner cited the Reduxx hit piece as the reason she'd known that Sullivan is trans. In the past week, Sullivan has been frustrated by coverage that not only features older pictures of her and her birth name, but trades on the 'patently false' idea that 'sex is binary and immutable' and constantly describes her as a 'biological male.' And she finds anti-trans sentiment about protecting women's spaces and sports, when couched in the language of feminism by figures like Rowling, former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, and former tennis pro Martina Navratilova, who faced potential repercussions for coming out as gay in the 1980s, particularly disingenuous. (Navratilova wrote on X that USA Fencing had thrown women 'under the gender bullshit bus' when she shared the tournament video.) 'Feminism should include all women, including trans women, and, I mean, coming from a trans person, that's less likely to be well received,' Sullivan says. 'But they aren't even fucking feminists.' She calls Navratilova, 'morally bankrupt' for recycling the toxic rhetoric she and other queer athletes endured in the past to go after trans athletes. 'In a world of Navratilovas, be a Billie Jean,' she adds, referencing another gay tennis superstar of the 1980s who supports trans people's participation in sports. Thankfully, Sullivan has found that the actual fencing community has rallied to her side, and is reading 'incredibly' supportive comments across platforms, including Reddit and Facebook. She reiterates that fencing is hardly a matter of broad public interest compared to stories like Trump's tariffs or Israel's war on Gaza. 'Even when it's an Olympic cycle,' she says, 'if you were to say, 'Name a gold medal Olympian [fencer],' people would be like, 'What's fencing?'' Best of Rolling Stone Every Super Bowl Halftime Show, Ranked From Worst to Best The United States of Weed Gaming Levels Up
