American fencing is under fire after viral video of women fencing Stephanie Turner kneels Protests on trans opponents.
Outstanding people including JK Rowling and Martina Navratilova, Along with thousands of women’s sports rights activists, trade-offs were weighed on social media.
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Fencingist Stephanie Sullivan kneels in front of American fencing officials. (Provided by the icon)
U.S. fencing resolved the dispute in a public statement Thursday, defending its cross-integration policy.
“American Fence remains committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful community for everyone in our sport. We believe in the principle of building a safe community, with one place for all athletes and community members,” the statement said.
“Although we learn there are a variety of perspectives, as policies for the Olympic and Paralympic sports and family laws develop, the U.S. fence will continue to be respectful, research-based dialogue and censorship, any form of hate speech is unacceptable, online or in person.
How does American fence get to this?
The organization has developed its current cross-irrigation policy for the first time in 2023. After completing a calendar year of inhibitory therapy for one calendar year, trans athletes can compete in the junior and senior women’s categories. Proof of compatible hormone therapy must be provided before competition, but the organization has taken further steps to prioritize its trans competitors.
In November 2022, it announced policy When choosing host cities for national championships, prefer states without laws that “damage members of the LGBTQ community” and no states that “have laws that harm women’s reproductive health.” The policy came into effect in the 2023 season, and in the same year it changed its gender policy.
“We have heard from many members, including board members and members of our elite athlete community, about whether to continue to put the incident in the realm of anti-LGBTQ laws or areas that align with our core values as an organization,” said U.S. Fence CEO Phil Andrews. “After a strong discussion with our board and staff team, U.S. Fence has raised a reluctance to prioritize these states without these laws.”
In November 2023, the organization released the Status list It aims to “avoid where possible” and its flat country does not allow major events. The states on the “Not allowed” list include Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.
States on their “avoid where possible” list include Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming, Wyoming, Alabama, Alabama, Alabama, Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Mississippi, North Division, North located in Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.
Over the past two years, this combination of policy has been the influx of biological male fencing players competing in women and women’s fencing competitions approved by women and women’s fencing competitions. Some of these competitors have previously participated in the men’s category. As of September 2023, four biological male fencers who have previously participated in the men’s category have won the American fencing podium in the women’s category.
Turner told Fox News that the number of trans competitors is even higher than that.
“In the fence, I see it a lot,” Turner said. “I’ve witnessed trans fencing players in Women’s Championships and girls’ championships in different age categories, especially the Y-14 (the youngest age group).
Trans athlete Turner refused to compete last weekend, according to Sullivan’s profile page, Redmond Sullivan Fence Tracker. This page shows return from June 2023 to September 28, 2024 – Athletes did not compete in Sullivan during an event in Newtown, Connecticut. Sullivan then won two gold medals, one in the Connecticut Junior Olympic qualifiers on December 8 and one in the Connecticut Summer National Qualifiers on March 16.
Last December, the non-profit fencing organization, Fair Fencing Organization, wrote a letter to American Fence Board members urged a reassessment of their position on several issues, including transgender.
“Besides politics, it is a reasonable requirement to form a task force to study this issue of fences more deeply and create a safe space where all women’s voices will be heard without ridicule and abuse,” the letter said.
But a few days later, the board members Vote against Approve several motions from the All Women Working Group to reevaluate and modify current transgender policies with an 8-3 vote. Now, after opposing the position of women fencing players seeking protection from transgender women, U.S. fencing finds itself trapped in global controversy after Turner’s virus protests.
The U.S. Fence provides statements to Fox News digital numbers to resolve the incident.
“U.S. Fencing enacted our current trans and non-binary athlete policy in 2023. The policy aims to expand opportunities for fencing and create inclusive, safe spaces. The policy is based on the principle that everyone should be based on today’s research and based on today’s research.”
“We respect perspectives from all sides and encourage our members to continue to share with us as things develop. It is crucial for the fenced community to have such conversations, but we want to have respectful conversations in our competitions and in online venues. Whether it is on our tournament or in online spaces. The way to progress is based on evidence of respect.”
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A U.S. fencing spokesman also told Fox News Digital Turner was punished for opposing trans stances, but only for refusing fences.
“In the case of Stephanie Turner, her disqualification has nothing to do with any personal statement, but is just a direct result of her decision to refuse a qualified opponent in the fence, which is clearly prohibited by the FIE rules,” the spokesperson said.
“Under the technical rules of the FIE (International Fencing Federation), especially Article T.113, fencers shall not refuse another fencer for any reason to enter the fencer. According to these rules, disqualification and corresponding sanctions are refused. The policy exists to maintain fair competition standards and maintain the integration of the sport.”
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