Fencer Stephanie Turner struck a blow for women’s sports last week – without even lifting her foil. She was due to face Redmond Sullivan – a man – in the Cherry Blossom Open tournament in Maryland, US. But rather than engage, she raised her visor, took a knee and refused to compete. Caught on camera, it was a graceful protest by a practitioner of what must be the most mannered of martial arts.
Under 2023 ‘trans inclusion’ rules, Sullivan was allowed to identify into the women’s tournament. Turner’s protest was met with swift punishment. A referee approached, exchanged a few words and then produced a black card, disqualifying her on the spot. USA Fencing rules dictate that refusing to compete against a properly entered opponent leads to immediate expulsion.
Ironically, the policy exists to ‘maintain fair competition standards and preserve the sport’s integrity’. But there is nothing fair about forcing a woman to compete against a man. And no man who pushes his way into women’s sports – no matter what he calls himself – can claim to have integrity.
Turner wasn’t informed in advance that her opponent would be male. She only recognised his name from an article in Reduxx magazine, which reported last December that Sullivan had competed in both male and female events simultaneously. Beyond fencing, he had also beaten girls in high-school shot-put competitions.
After Turner took the knee, Sullivan approached her. According to Turner, this is what she said to him:
‘I am refusing to fence you because I am a woman and you are a man. I have much love and respect for you. But I will not compete against you.’
This wasn’t a rash decision. Turner has deliberately avoided fencing competitions where men have been allowed to fight women. ‘I have witnessed transgender fencers in women’s tournaments and girls’ tournaments in different age categories’, she told Fox News this week. ‘This is a serious issue that is happening within all sports, and it needs to be addressed… There is a difference between men and women… and I prioritise the safety and rights and protection of women and girls over trans-identified males.’
Turner’s moment of defiance has cut through the noise. The footage of her protest has gone viral, joining a growing catalogue of images that highlight the trans threat to women’s sport, such as men towering over women on podia and male runners lapping female competitors. High-profile sportswomen like Martina Navratilova and Riley Gaines have drawn attention to Turner’s stand. Even BBC Sport, normally the last outlet to acknowledge biological reality, has been forced to cover the story.
USA Fencing, now on the back foot, has issued a statement defending its trans policy: ‘USA Fencing will always err on the side of inclusion, and we’re committed to amending the policy as more relevant, evidence-based research emerges, or as policy changes take effect in the wider Olympic and Paralympic movement.’
Turner never sought to be a spokeswoman for a cause. She admits her decision wasn’t easy and that it will ‘probably, at least for the moment, destroy my life’. But that is exactly why it matters. A woman who refuses to fight a man should not expect to have her life destroyed.
Stephanie Turner took the knee so that women everywhere could stand up to the trans bullies in sport. Now it’s time for sporting bodies to support women, to call en garde and face up to the trans activists in their ranks.
Jo Bartosch is a journalist campaigning for the rights of women and girls.
