The Minnesota division of USA Fencing has announced a dramatic response to recent policy changes regarding transgender athletes, declaring it will only sanction mixed-gender competitions moving forward. This decision comes as a direct challenge to new USA Fencing policies that restrict participation in women’s categories to biological females only.
The Minnesota division’s announcement explicitly criticized the national organization’s policy shift as detrimental to the fencing community. “The Minnesota Division would like to confirm our commitment to inclusion and acknowledge the harmful effects of the new USA Fencing policy as guidened by the USOPC’s guidelines,” the division stated in its official announcement.
The policy change at the national level emerged from broader shifts within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which updated its athlete safety guidelines to align with President Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order. USA Fencing subsequently modified its own policies last month to ensure that only biological females could compete in women’s categories.
However, the Minnesota division argues it faces a legal conflict between the new USA Fencing policy and state law. “The recent changes in the USA Fencing policy, in line with USOPC guidelines, has caused pain and confusion in the entire fencing community,” the division noted, pointing to the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which provides protections based on gender identity.
The division explained its decision as a temporary measure while seeking resolution: “We are currently seeking guidance on how to move forward without violating either [the USA Fencing policy or the Minnesota Human Rights act]. Due to this, only mixed events will be sanctioned at this time.”
In a direct message to affected athletes, the Minnesota division added: “Trans and nonbinary fencers belong here, and we see you.”
This has been a turbulent year for USA Fencing, which has faced intense scrutiny since April when women’s fencer Stephanie Turner’s protest against competing with a transgender opponent went viral. Turner knelt in protest and was subsequently disqualified and given a black card, sparking widespread debate about transgender participation in women’s sports.
The controversy escalated to federal hearings, with Turner testifying before the Department of Government Efficiency Subcommittee in May. USA Fencing chair Damien Lehfeldt also appeared at these hearings, which focused on policies regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports.
The organization has undergone multiple policy revisions in recent months, including changes to its previous guidelines that prioritized LGBTQ-friendly states for hosting competitions and policies that might have affected the playing of the national anthem at events.
Internal strife has also plagued the organization, with two board members filing a lawsuit against six others, alleging false statements were made to Congress during the May hearings. USA Fencing has pledged to “vigorously defend the organization in court” against what it calls misrepresentations.
Minnesota’s resistance extends beyond fencing, as the state has become a focal point for broader disputes over transgender athlete policies. Federal investigations by the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education are currently examining Minnesota’s policies that permit transgender athletes in women’s and girls’ sports.
USA Fencing has been contacted for comment on the Minnesota division’s announcement, but no response has been provided as of yet.
