USA Fencing Reverses Course on Anthem Ban and LGBT Based Blacklist After Massive Backlash

USA Fencing has changed two controversial policies—one banning the national anthem and another blacklisting conservative states—after months of public outrage and a high-profile congressional hearing.

Key Facts:

USA Fencing’s board voted to reverse a policy that favored LGBTQ-friendly states for competition sites.
The board also approved a uniform national anthem policy to take effect at the 2025 Summer Nationals.
The changes follow backlash over the punishment of fencer Stephanie Turner, who refused to compete against a trans opponent in March.
Turner’s disqualification drew federal scrutiny during a May 7 hearing led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
USA Fencing may also revise its trans athlete policy to require competitors to align with their biological sex.

The Rest of The Story:

USA Fencing announced a major shift in policy following growing criticism of its woke agenda.

The governing body removed its prior system of blacklisting states based on their social policies and replaced it with a policy focused on “cost, safety and convenience.”

This reverses the 2022 rule that gave preference to blue states with progressive laws and excluded 11 states outright from hosting events.

The anthem controversy also ended.

Beginning in 2025, the national anthem will be played at all USA Fencing national events under a new standard.

“The new policy will provide consistent, respectful minimum guidance for honoring the flag and anthem,” the group said.

That’s a major change from just a few months ago, when the board voted 8–2 against playing the anthem at tournaments.

Pressure mounted after Stephanie Turner refused to compete against a trans-identifying male athlete.

She was disqualified and issued a black card.

Female fencer Stephanie Turner speaks out after she refused to compete against a male at a Women's @USAfencing event:

"I am a woman– so I compete in the women's division which is where I'm rightfully am– he can easily compete in the men's division." https://t.co/Z6Bwt6c3dm pic.twitter.com/nucGNEwslt

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 4, 2025

Her protest and punishment drew widespread attention, culminating in a federal hearing where lawmakers blasted USA Fencing for prioritizing ideology over inclusion and fairness.

I asked if USA Fencing’s Chair Damien Lehfeldt would apologize to women’s fencing hero Stephanie Turner. For how they treated her for standing up for herself and standing against men in women’s fencing.

He refused.

Real men protect women. This guy ain’t one.

Hold the line. pic.twitter.com/nOHUB6Z6Pj

— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) May 8, 2025

Commentary:

This reversal from USA Fencing isn’t coming from a place of principle. It’s a defensive move.

The organization only backtracked after intense heat from the public, athletes, and lawmakers.

Without Trump shifting the national debate, this wouldn’t be happening.

The leaders at USA Fencing showed their cards when they originally banned red states and the anthem.

That wasn’t about “safety”—it was about pushing a social agenda.

They used their power to blacklist states based on their politics, which has no place in a national sports body.

Even now, it’s clear these changes are temporary.

The leadership still supports the same woke ideology.

They’re only bending because they’ve been backed into a corner.

As soon as political winds shift or media attention fades, they’ll likely return to business as usual.

No organization funded or sanctioned at a national level should be allowed to deny the national anthem or discriminate against half the country for its values.

That’s not inclusion—it’s coercion.

These policies harmed the sport.

Young athletes in red states were punished for their state legislatures’ beliefs.

Parents were forced to decide between supporting their children’s dreams or abandoning their principles.

That’s not “growing the sport”—that’s politicizing it.

Leadership like this damages trust.

Fencers want fair rules and equal opportunities, not social engineering.

This group needs a full leadership overhaul before it can be trusted again.

USA Fencing should focus on fencing—period.

Not pushing political litmus tests, not enforcing cultural compliance, and not silencing the anthem.

That they even needed to be told this by Congress is embarrassing.

The Bottom Line:

USA Fencing changed course on two divisive policies—banning the national anthem and blacklisting conservative states—only after intense public and political backlash.

These moves appear more about survival than sincerity.

The organization’s credibility remains in question, and the policy reversals are a reminder of how far many sports bodies have drifted from their mission.

A serious leadership change is overdue.