At a recent USA Fencing event held at the University of Maryland, a young woman took a stand — or rather, a knee — and found herself kicked out of the competition.
The fencer, whose name hasn’t been made public, was disqualified and expelled after refusing to compete against Redmond Sullivan, a transgender who used to fence on the men’s team at Wagner College before switching to the women’s category.
Female fencer takes a knee and receives disqualification for refusing to compete against a man competing on the women’s team at @WagnerCollege
THIS is how you say enough is enough. BOYcott!!!
Kudos to this woman for taking a stand.
pic.twitter.com/dxRk6JVWa7— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 2, 2025
Her quiet protest has sparked a much louder national conversation — one that’s been growing for years: Should biological men be allowed to compete in women’s sports?
For many, the answer is simple: No.
A Growing Concern in Women’s Sports
Redmond Sullivan’s participation in the women’s division has brought more attention to the ongoing debate.
Critics argue that allowing transgender women — who were born male and went through male puberty — to compete against biological females isn’t fair.
They say it’s not about hate or exclusion, but about basic science and protecting women’s opportunities.
Studies back up some of these concerns.
Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that even after a year of hormone therapy, transgender women still maintained physical advantages over biological females in areas like speed, strength, and endurance.
The Cost of Speaking Out
But speaking up — or kneeling down — can come at a price. That’s what happened to the fencer at the University of Maryland.
For taking a knee before the match with Sullivan, officials swiftly disqualified her and removed her from the competition.
Some say that’s not just unfair — it’s un-American.
This young woman didn’t shout or throw anything. She didn’t cause a scene. She took a knee to stand up for what she believes.
Isn’t that what protest is supposed to look like?
Isn’t that exactly what former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick did years ago during the National Anthem?
And didn’t liberals rush to his defense?
Policy Catching Up to Reality?
USA Fencing has policies in place that allow transgender women to compete if they meet certain hormone requirements.
But critics argue that’s not enough to level the playing field.
Across the country, states are grappling with the issue.
As of now, over 20 states have passed laws banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports in public schools.
Supporters of these laws say they’re necessary to protect the rights of female athletes — rights won through decades of hard-fought progress.
What the Other Side Says
Advocates for transgender athletes argue that banning them from women’s sports is discriminatory and harmful to young people who are already at risk of bullying and isolation.
But to many parents, coaches, and athletes — especially women — the bigger concern is fairness.
They say inclusion shouldn’t come at the cost of the very people women’s sports were designed to protect.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The fencer who took a knee may have been expelled, but her message reached far beyond that fencing strip.
She’s one of many athletes, past and present, who are pushing back against what they see as a serious threat to the integrity of women’s sports.
This story, and others like it, beg the question: Are we willing to speak the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable?
Or will we keep sidelining those who dare to say something’s not right?
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
