Overview

• Stephanie Turner, a female fencer, protested USA Fencing’s transgender inclusion policy by kneeling instead of competing against transgender athlete Redmond Sullivan at the Cherry Blossom Open on March 30.
• Turner was disqualified from the tournament for refusing to compete, as confirmed by USA Fencing, which stated her protest was not the reason for her disqualification.
• Turner is set to testify before the House Oversight Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) on May 7, alongside USA Fencing Chair Damien Lehfeldt.
• The U.S. Department of Education is investigating potential Title IX violations tied to USA Fencing’s compliance with an executive order restricting transgender participation in women’s sports.
• USA Fencing defends its 2023 transgender inclusion policy, emphasizing inclusivity and citing the need for respectful, research-based discussions on the topic.