USA Fencing Revises Policies Amid Controversy Over LGBTQ Inclusion and National Anthem Protocol

USA Fencing Revises Policies Amid Controversy Over LGBTQ Inclusion and National Anthem Protocol

In a significant policy shift, the board of directors of USA Fencing has voted to amend its hosting criteria for competitions, no longer prioritizing LGBTQ-friendly states. Additionally, the organization has changed its policy on the playing of the national anthem during events.

This decision follows months of fierce criticism directed at the organization for punitive actions taken against a female fencer who opted not to compete against a transgender athlete. The controversy garnered further scrutiny from lawmakers during a congressional hearing in early May, highlighting the growing tensions surrounding inclusion policies in sports.

The decision was finalized during a board meeting held on Saturday, marking a pivotal change in USA Fencing’s operational guidelines.

Streamlined Policy Emphasizes Safety and Cost

The official announcement elaborated on the new policy, stating that it adopts a streamlined approach. This revised policy prioritizes cost, safety, and convenience for national-event bids across all states. Moreover, it ensures that the host cities for USA Fencing events meet stringent safety and cost-efficiency standards.

National Anthem Policy to Debut in 2025

Another noteworthy element of the board’s changes is the introduction of a uniform national anthem policy, which will go into effect at the 2025 Summer Nationals. This policy will be reviewed annually by the tournament committee to ensure consistency and respect in honoring the national flag and anthem across all USA Fencing events.

The announcement indicates that the board acted on the tournament committee’s recommendation to adopt this new national anthem policy, which aims to establish minimum guidelines for honoring the national symbols during nine annual tournaments.

Previous Policies Under Fire

In December, USA Fencing’s board voted against a motion to begin playing the national anthem at the start of all tournaments, which narrowly failed with an 8-2 vote. This decision came just months before the organization had launched the hosting policy favoring states without laws deemed harmful to LGBTQ individuals or women’s reproductive health.

The previous policy had given preference to states that exhibited more inclusive laws when selecting host cities for national tournaments. This policy was implemented for the 2023 season and gained traction as USA Fencing updated its gender policy alongside it. A list was released showcasing states that the organization would aim to avoid, as well as those that would be entirely barred from hosting significant events.

States Blacklisted for Hosting Events

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