US Fencing. Woman Disqualified for Refusing to Fence Against Trans Fencer

Such a shame this ends up being the fight of just one woman, taking the whole burden on her shoulders for all the others who don’t want to rock the boat. Not that I blame them. This is on the organisers and rule makers. Good woman yerself. Well done.

I'm watching Helen Joyce - thanks for the video. The 'bring your whole self to work' is such idiocy. A very large number of people in essential but boring jobs have 'whole selves' who would like to get paid whilst doing fulfilling hobbies instead.

My 'whole self' is ALWAYS going to want to take a paid day off when it's sunny. Is my employer going to accommodate that?

Exactly, male entitlement on steroids.

I actually think it may be the end times for human civilisation. It's so immediately obviously bullying and wrong. We can see with our eyes - but people expect us to pretend we can't. When people are cheering something so obviously wrong, we're all doomed.

As KJK said, 'I'm not a vet but I know what a dog is'!

Yes exactly that one, it’s brilliant as we come to expect from Helen, but if you don’t have time the end gives helpful ways to deal with entrenched ideologists or at least how best to get a foot in the door.

I thought that nutjob Trump had stopped this kind of nonsense (may be the only good thing he does)?

I am so sad to see another woman having to lose out because of such a clearly unfair situation. Good for her. I hope that this brings about a rapid change in policy.

The photo of him towering over the young women illustrates the issue perfectly 🤬

The article from the BBC is good because Stephanie Turner gave an incredibly clear account of why she refused to fence and the BBC actually quoted it.

Their own words still waffle around “transgender opponent” as if it’s the fact that the man is transgender that is the important factor and not the fact that he is male. That said, “transgender opponent” is an improvement on “transgender woman” so that’s an advance!

“Responding to Turner's disqualification on 30 March, USA Fencing said: "In the case of Stephanie Turner, her disqualification, which applies to this tournament only, 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 FIE rules clearly prohibit.”

“Please, please,” says USA fencing, “don’t mention what she said. That had nothing to do with her disqualification and it’s important nobody should be told what she said…”

Lots of publicity for this. They really want to die on this hill.

A lot of Dem politicians are doubling down on ending women's sports. Going to be interesting how that plays out in elections.

Quite surprised to see this relatively even-handed article on BBC website -

https://www.bbc.com/sport/fencing/articles/cpdzv76gl49o

https://archive.md/3Jlgt

Damien Lehfeldt is the Director of
@USAFencing
He wrote a now deleted blog backing men in women’s fencing Thankfully someone archived it He believes giving cross dressing men a ‘will to live’ matters more than women’s medals

This has Turner's interview comments and some more details about USAF's response.

Women's fencer opens up on refusing to face transgender opponent, accepting punishment and backlash

This is getting enough attention in the media to warrant some government attention to both USAF and the university. Let's hope so. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.

@Wishitsnows i read in the paper she was disqualified for refusing to play against the trans person.... sorry if I used the wrong pronouns 😳

Yes. This a quote from the interview Stephanie gave.

In case the image doesn't post, this is the text:

Redmond Sullivan (standing over Stephanie): “There is a member on the board of directors here who supports me, and there is a policy that acknowledges me as a woman, so I am allowed to fence, and you will get black-carded.”

Stephanie Turner (kneeling): “I know”

This was shared on Facebook as being the content of the conversation - obvs can't guarantee its accuracy.

Thanks for sharing the comment, I'm going to stealing that in future, it really sums it all up. 🤬

Thank you for finding that, Flowchart, seems to be the right one xx

This one?

Yank here. That's a fair reading of the situation, but the University of Maryland benefits from Federal funding in that many if not most of the students attending get Federal student loans to pay tuition and fees. Those can be blocked for a Title IX violation.

It's a very big stick to beat them with and only a handful of colleges and universities in the US forego Federal student loans.

Edited to add that It's incomprehensible to me that a second or third tier uni like U of Maryland is testing the waters like this while Trump goes after Columbia, the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard for other Title IX and Title XI violations. U Penn has had $175m in Federal funding frozen for letting a trans woman onto their women's swimming team. U of Maryland is begging for a beat down on this.

Yup. I noticed that part, too.

FYI I just listened to HJ from last Genspec, gave great advice on how to talk/be open with people who are “woke” TRAs last few mins of speech worth a watch on YouTube I need to watch again myself!

He is a serial cheater, sounds seriously mentally ill, living in fantasy land, with all the handmaidens et al cheering him on & affirming him & his bravery. 🤢 🤢 🤢 what’s happened to Trumps Promise? Where are the news headlines? Finding it difficult to believe this will ever end more likely will get much worse. So sad