Stephanie Turner, a women’s fencer, made headlines after kneeling in protest during a tournament rather than facing a transgender opponent. The incident sparked fierce debate about fairness in women’s sports. Turner, a lifelong Democrat who recently switched to the Republican Party, says she acted to protect women’s rights and safety.
Turner refused to fence Redmond Sullivan, a biological male competing in the women’s division at the Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland. Moments before the match, she knelt and told officials, “I cannot do this. I am a woman, and this is a man.” She was swiftly disqualified and escorted out. Turner knew the move could “destroy her life” but felt compelled to take a stand.
The fencer criticized USA Fencing’s transgender policy, which allows athletes to compete based on gender identity without requiring hormone treatments. “Any male can say they’ve lived as a woman for a year and join women’s events,” she said. Turner claims the policy ignores biological differences and puts female athletes at risk. She hopes her protest forces the organization to reconsider its rules.
Turner, once a staunch Democrat, now identifies as a Republican. She says her party switch stemmed from frustration over liberal support for transgender inclusion in sports. “A small group is holding athletes hostage to extremist views,” she argued. Turner also credits her Christian faith for giving her courage to protest, stating she prayed for guidance before taking action.
Despite backlash, Turner’s story has gone viral. Conservative groups like XX-XY Athletics featured her protest in a commercial, praising her bravery. Fox News covered her extensively, with hosts calling her a “true feminist hero.” Critics accuse her of bigotry, but Turner insists her stance isn’t hateful. “This is about fairness and truth,” she said.
USA Fencing defends its policy, calling it “inclusive” and based on available research. The organization claims Turner was punished solely for refusing an eligible opponent, not for her beliefs. Meanwhile, Turner says officials haven’t contacted her about the incident but reached out to Sullivan instead. She calls this proof of bias within the organization.
The fencer’s protest aligns with broader conservative efforts to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports. President Trump’s recent executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” amplifies this push. Turner supports the order, saying politicians must prioritize common sense over “woke” ideologies.
Turner urges others to speak out, even if it means sacrifice. “Something needs to be done,” she said. Her story highlights growing tensions between inclusion and fairness, with conservatives rallying behind athletes like her. As debates rage, Turner remains steadfast: “Women’s rights shouldn’t be erased to appease a radical agenda.”
