The fencing strip turned into a battleground of a different kind last weekend when Stephanie Turner dropped her mask, knelt in protest, and refused to face off against her opponent — simply because that opponent is transgender.
Turner, competing at a USA Fencing-sanctioned regional tournament in Maryland, stunned the room when she took a knee ahead of her match against Redmond Sullivan, a transgender woman. The referee wasn’t having it. She was swiftly handed a black card and shown the door, her disqualification setting off a firestorm across social media.
“This wasn’t about politics,” USA Fencing clarified in a statement. “It was about following the rules. She refused to compete against an eligible athlete, and per the International Fencing Federation (FIE) guidelines, that’s a no-go.”
But Turner had no qualms admitting her motives were rooted in identity politics. Speaking afterward, she declared, “I am a woman, and this is a man, and this is a women’s tournament.” Her words misgendered Sullivan and echoed the kind of rhetoric that’s become all too common among anti-trans commentators.
Fencing body sticks to inclusion policy
USA Fencing didn’t flinch. Their policy, updated in 2023, allows transgender and nonbinary athletes to participate in events based on inclusion and available scientific evidence. “We will always err on the side of inclusion,” the organization stated, promising to adapt as new research or Olympic policy evolves.
Still, some voices chimed in from the sidelines. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova — a gay rights icon who has nevertheless taken a hardline stance on trans women in sports — lashed out on X, calling USA Fencing’s stance “gender bullshit” and accusing the organization of throwing women “under the bus.”
While emotions run hot, the facts remain: Sullivan was eligible under current rules, and Turner chose protest over participation. This wasn’t a ban on speech — it was a consequence of refusing to play by the rules.
A line in the sand — and on the strip
For the LGBTQ community, especially young athletes navigating sport while embracing their identity, this moment is more than a skirmish over a fencing match. It’s a reminder that visibility comes with resistance — but also with allies and policies that prioritize fairness and inclusion.
The black card handed to Turner wasn’t a political statement. It was a firm response to an athlete refusing to respect another’s identity — and the rules that protect it.
Inclusion in sports isn’t a footnote. It’s the headline. And USA Fencing just made it clear: if you’re going to step on the strip, you better be ready to face your opponent — whoever they are.