Female fencer Stephanie Turner received recognition as a Courage Wins Champion after she knelt instead of facing a biological male during a competition this month. XX-XY Athletics named Turner as the recipient on Monday.
Philadelphia fencer receives award and huge prize for ... (Source: www.unilad.com)
"Her knee protest made her stronger than any male. She defended women's sports with her stance," said XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey in a statement. "She exemplifies heroism."
Turner will get $5,000 plus entry into a leadership program. Sey revealed the award during "America Reports" on Fox News Channel.
"We want to reduce the financial impact of cancellation and support these women," Sey explained. "They have backing and community. They will never face these challenges alone."
Stephanie Turner receives award for courage over protest ... (Source: www.foxnews.com)
Turner declined to compete against transgender participant Redmond Sullivan at the Cherry Blossom Open. Officials gave Turner a black card for kneeling, which resulted in her tournament dismissal for major violations or poor sportsmanship.
"I understood my necessary action because USA Fencing had ignored women's complaints about their gender policy," Turner told Fox News Digital recently. "I immediately knelt down. Redmond thought I would start the match. When I knelt, I looked at the referee and said, 'I cannot participate. I am female, this person is male. This is a women's event. I refuse to fence against this individual.'"
USA Fencing supported its transgender inclusion policy after the protest.
"USA Fencing stays dedicated to creating an inclusive, respectful environment for everyone in our sport. We believe in establishing safe spaces where all athletes and community members belong," their statement said.
Stephanie Turner receives award for courage over protest ... (Source: www.foxnews.com)
"While we acknowledge various viewpoints, USA Fencing will maintain respectful, evidence-based discussions as policies change in Olympic and Paralympic movements and domestic law. Hateful language is unacceptable anywhere. Let's keep discussions respectful and competitions welcoming to everyone."
Female fencer who was given severe punishment for refusing to partake with transgender opponent speaks out
A female athlete eliminated from a fencing event after declining to compete against a transgender rival states she acted for her "personal safety" hoping to draw attention to concerns within regulatory organizations.
USA Fencing disqualifies female fencer for refusing to fight ... (Source: www.nbcnews.com)
Fencing Academy of Philadelphia member Stephanie Turner has ignited widespread controversy online after forfeiting a match in Maryland. The 31-year-old was scheduled to compete against 20-year-old Redmond Sullivan at the Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland on March 30. However, a referee issued Turner a black card after she refused to fight Redmond, a transgender competitor representing the University of Maryland, according to ABC News.
The Academy of Fencing Masters explains that a black card signifies the "complete and negative termination of competition for a fencer" who has violated the code of honor. This penalty is regarded as one of the most serious in the sport.
When declining to face Sullivan in the USA Fencing-approved regional event, Turner removed her protective mask and knelt on the piste. She then told her opponent they would not be competing against each other. The fencer's actions at the Maryland tournament - which was not an NCAA competition - resulted in her disqualification following four successful matches with different opponents.
Turner has now addressed the incident, claiming she didn't want to "get hurt" by Sullivan. "I did this for my own physical safety, because this is a combat sport - and, in competition setting, men fence a lot harder than women and I don't want to get hurt," Turner told the New York Post.
The athlete explained she previously avoided registering for events with transgender participants. Now she enters these competitions, stating it's too "expensive" to cancel or skip certain tournaments.
"Ultimately I'd never be able to fence if I was just avoiding every tournament where there was a transgender person," she stated.
Describing her protest, Turner claims she informed Sullivan she would not compete against her. "I'm sorry, but I will not fence you. You're a man, and I'm a woman, and this is a women's tournament. I have much love and respect for you, but I will not fence you," she reportedly told her opponent.
USA Fencing supports trans athlete after opponent's protest ... (Source: www.irishstar.com)
Turner, who has fenced for 12 years, claims Sullivan appeared "upset" by her actions. "Redmond says to me, 'Well you know, 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,' and I said, 'I know'," she told Fox News Digital.
Following her protest, a referee promptly notified Turner of her tournament elimination. After receiving the black card, officials requested she sign papers confirming her withdrawal. Turner considers it "unjust" that the United States Fencing Administration (USFA) permits transgender athletes to compete in women's categories.
In their response to UNILAD, a USA Fencing representative clarified that Turner faced penalties not for her protest itself, but specifically for declining to compete against an "eligible competitor."
"The FIE (International Fencing Federation) Technical Rules, particularly Article t.113, prohibit fencers from refusing to face properly registered opponents for any reason," the representative explained. "Under these guidelines, such refusal leads to disqualification and related penalties. This rule exists to uphold fair competition standards and protect the sport's integrity."
USA Fencing has since acknowledged they "recognize" that discussions about fairness and inclusion regarding transgender participation in sports "continue to develop."
They stated: "We will prioritize inclusion, and we pledge to modify the policy as more relevant evidence-based research becomes available, or as policy changes occur throughout the Olympic & Paralympic movement.
"We value perspectives from all sides and invite our members to continue sharing them with us as this matter progresses.
History of fencing: From ancient duels to modern sport (Source: www.redbull.com)
"The fencing community must engage in this conversation, but we expect these discussions to remain respectful, whether during our tournaments or in online forums. Progress comes through respectful dialogue grounded in evidence."
USA Fencing further explained that their current transgender and non-binary athlete policy aims to increase access to fencing while creating an inclusive, safe environment.
"The policy builds on the principle that everyone should have opportunities to participate in sports and was developed based on research available at the time," a spokesperson added.
Anti Trump activist boasts of being 'undocumented, unafraid, queer' at rally
A non-legal resident participating in a "Hands Off!" demonstration opposing former President Trump on Saturday proclaimed she was "unafraid" to publicly reveal her immigration status and sexual identity. "I am an immigrant, I am undocumented, unafraid, queer and unashamed," stated Greisa Martinez Rosas, a veteran progressive immigration advocate, during the Washington, D.C. event this weekend, as reported by the New York Post.
Her remarks come amid nationwide protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies and budget reductions. Demonstrators have criticized the president for accelerating deportations and reducing federal agency funding through the Department of Government Efficiency.
Anti-Trump activist boasts of being 'undocumented, unafraid ... (Source: wfin.com)
Rosas was born in Hidalgo, Mexico, but entered the United States during her childhood and grew up near Dallas. She now leads United We Dream, an organization connecting over 400,000 young immigrants. She addressed tens of thousands of protesters at the capital city rally, one of more than 1,000 demonstrations held across the country on Saturday.
According to reports, her speech quickly spread on social media platforms, receiving mixed reactions from users.
"Deport her. Now," wrote one X user, the Post reported. "Lock her up," commented another. Some users suggested her public statement would likely attract attention from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"The only thing she didn't tell ICE is her home address," remarked one X user. "I'm confident they can look that up."
Anti-Trump activist boasts of being 'undocumented, unafraid ... (Source: wfin.com)
"I guess we will see her arrested later this week, thanks for coming forward to let ICE know where you are," another user added.
Keller: Pushing transgender issues could be politically treacherous for Democrats
Massachusetts Representative Bill Keating defended a transgender colleague during a subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, but WBZ-TV political analyst Jon Keller indicated this fight might not benefit Democrats, according to surveys.
Tensions run high currently in Washington. Consequently, the typically calm Cape Cod Congressman Keating became upset at a subcommittee hearing when Republican chairman, Representative Keith Self of Texas, addressed Democratic Representative Sarah McBride of Delaware, the sole openly transgender Congress member, as "Mr. McBride."
Rep. Keating Supports Rep. McBride
Delaware lawmaker runs to be first openly transgender member ... (Source: www.axios.com)
This type of gender identity dismissal is something McBride claims she has grown used to and chooses to disregard. She told CBS News last autumn, as Republicans publicly discussed banning her from House bathrooms, "I want my approach of respecting everyone to contrast with the disrespect we see right now."
Keating, however, refused to stay silent. "You are out of order, Mr. Chairman, have you no decency?" he shouted at Self, who promptly ended the hearing and left quickly.
This exchange recalls a notable moment in political history from 1944 when Boston attorney Joseph Welch challenged notorious red-baiting Senator Joseph McCarthy by asking, "Have you no sense of decency, sir?" That confrontation started McCarthy's downfall.
Could history repeat itself? Consider how a Republican advertisement highlighting Kamala Harris's support for taxpayer-funded sex change operations influenced voters toward Trump. The president has continued opposing transgender rights, including prohibiting transgender athletes in women's sports.
Keating's fellow Representative Seth Moulton made news last fall when he also expressed opposition to transgender women participating in school sports, and recent surveys show many Democrats share this view.
Polls Show Support for Trans Restrictions
New poll shows Americans overwhelmingly oppose anti ... (Source: www.pbs.org)
A Pew Research study found increasing backing over the past three years among all adults for limits on trans athletes, with Democratic opinions following the overall pattern.
An even larger shift supports stopping health care workers from helping minors undergo gender transition. The same trend appears regarding bathroom access restrictions.
This explains why McBride prefers to respond with dignity and occasional humor, as she did during this hearing by politely saying, "Thank you, Madame Chair" after Self's rudeness.
Maine Governor Janet Mills recently confronted the president directly on this issue, stating, "We'll see you in court." Most of these disagreements will likely be settled through legal channels.
But the reality is that in public opinion polls, focusing on this topic, as visibly-angered Keating did during that session, seems politically unwise for Democrats.
