The video of fencer Stephanie Turner refusing to fight against transgender Redmond Sullivan has gone viral
Stephanie Turner, a female fencer, was eliminated from a competition for declining to compete against a transgender opponent, fencer Redmond Sullivan sparking a new transgender controversy in US sports.
The game was reportedly planned for Sunday, March 30, at the University of Maryland’s Cherry Blossom D1A/Veteran Regional Open Circuit. But the fencing match never happened.
Who is fencer Stephanie Turner who refused to compete against transgender Redmond Sullivan during Cherry Blossom fencing tournament in University of Maryland
Stephanie Turner took a knee just before the start of the match and declined to compete against transgender athlete Redmond Sullivan. Turner was consequently sent out of the tournament after receiving a black card from the officials.
The 31-year-old fencer Stephanie Turner decided not to fight trans athlete Redmond Sullivan in the Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland over the weekend. Additionally, Turner wanted to ensure that her refusal was captured on camera for public consumption.
USA fencer Stephanie Turner was scheduled to face Redmond Sullivan at the Cherry Blossom tournament held at the University of Maryland but as the match was about to begin, Turner took a knee and removed her mask in a protest during the Division 1A Women’s Foil event.
She was shown a black card which signifies that a player is immediately excluded from the competition and suspended for the remainder of it. Turner had completed four matches before facing Sullivan, who placed 24th out of 39 in the competition.
Speaking about her decision, Turner said: ‘I saw that I was going to be in a pool with Redmond, and from there I said, ‘OK, let’s do it. I’m going to take the knee’.
The night before the tournament, Turner made up her mind after looking at the competition pools and seeing that she would be fighting against Sullivan, whom she had read about in an article from the previous year.
Before facing the trans athlete, Turner completed all of her warm-ups that day and proceeded to fence in four fights. She felt “nervous and shaky,” but she was certain of her choice when it came time.
“I knew what I had to do because USA Fencing had not been listening to women’s objections regarding [its gender eligibility policy],” Turner said.
“I took a knee immediately at that point. Redmond was under the impression that I was going to start fencing. So, when I took the knee, I looked at the ref and I said, ‘I’m sorry, I cannot do this. I am a woman, and this is a man, and this is a women’s tournament. And I will not fence this individual.’
USA Fencing meanwhile released a statement in support of Sullivan and transgender participation in the sport, “USA Fencing enacted our current transgender and non-binary athlete policy in 2023. The policy was designed to expand access to the sport of fencing and create inclusive, safe spaces.
“The policy is based on the principle that everyone should have the ability to participate in sports and was based upon the research available of the day.
“We understand that the conversation on equity and inclusion pertaining to transgender participation in sport is evolving. 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.”
A few minutes later, Turner received a black card from the referees, the harshest punishment for major rule violations or unsportsmanlike conduct, which results in ejection from the competition or event.
According to Turner, she was then led to the bout committee and required to provide an explanation of her actions. She claims that after that, the members forced her to sign a document admitting the black card and gave her a copy of the association’s transgender policy. According to Turner, she signed the agreement despite her reservations.