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By taking a knee, fencer stood up for women. It's inspiring.

Nicole Russell   Paste BN

One of the most challenging things about being a mom is balancing competing goals: I have an inherent desire to protect my children from pain, but I also know that the traits I want them to develop – such as courage and perseverance – are often developed through difficulty. 

I recently saw a woman show courage by making a difficult decision to stand up for herself on an issue that has been contentious in recent years. 

Stephanie Turner, 31, was disqualified from USA Fencing’s Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland in March. She opted to take a knee rather than face off against Redmond Sullivan, a 20-year-old biological male who competes as a transgender woman. 

Video from the event, which was recently posted on social media, is inspiring. It must have taken incredible courage for Turner to opt out of her round, knowing she wouldn’t be able to remain in a tournament that she has competed in for 10 years. 

She told the referee, “I’m a woman and this is a man, and I will not fence this individual. This is a woman’s tournament.”  

Sullivan competed for the men's fencing team at Wagner College last season before switching to the women's team this season. The college has announced that Sullivan is no longer a member of the women’s team. 

A women’s clothing brand, XX-XY Athletics, awarded Turner its most recent “Courage Wins Champion” award.

Meet XX-XY Athletics founder: Trump is '1,000% doing the right thing.' Former Democrat speaks up for women.

This issue has become a political minefield. I know that people struggle with gender dysphoria, and I want them to find help and healing. But I don’t think women athletes should be forced to compete against biological male athletes. 

Turner made a difficult choice, which she should not have had to make in an era of women’s equality. Her courage may ensure that my daughters never have to make such a decision.  

I plan to tell my daughters about Turner’s courage. I hope they’re as inspired as I am. 

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