• The Springfield, Illinois YMCA has suspended a young female swimmer for allegedly “hate speech” and questioning its transgender locker room policy.
• The swimmer said at a press conference Thursday along with his sister, a former NCAA swimmer and former teammate of Riley Gaines. They spoke alongside members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus, who spoke out against transgender locker room policies and called on the YMCA to reconsider.
• “When I asked my coach how long he knew biological men changed in the women’s locker room, they laughed at me,” said Abigail Wheeler.

A high school swimmer who voiced opposition to sharing a locker room with a real man spoke out after being expelled from the YMCA, according to testimony at a press conference, and was expelled from the swim team for objections.

Wheeler, a 16-year-old swimmer and sister of former NCAA swimmer and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines’ teammate Caitlin Wheeler, said: speech Outside of Springfield, Illinois, she was barred from entering and leaving the YMCA and criticized the actions of YMCA officials. Ms Wheeler faced opposition from the YMCA for posting her signs around the locker room and voicing opposition to YMCA leaders, and she was laughed at and mocked by YMCA staff. she insisted.

Abigail Wheeler was kicked off the swim team at just 16 years old, banned from the YMCA, and accused of hate speech after she voiced concern when a biological male continued to use the girls’ locker room.

listen @Riley_Gaines_ Message to her: pic.twitter.com/je70ZCR6vX

— IWN (@IWN) July 11, 2023

“I went into the girls’ changing room to go to the bathroom. On my way to the stall, I saw a man sitting next to two adults who were sitting on a changing bench,” Wheeler explained.

“After seeing the man in the girls’ locker room, I was scared and upset. , I told her there was a man in the girls’ locker room, and he said he was aware of it and there was nothing he could do,” Wheeler said.

Ms Wheeler then described another incident in April when the same person was in the bathroom, saying she changed into a towel so she wasn’t completely undressed, and said she didn’t tell anyone about the incident. . (Related: Trans swimmer Leah Thomas beats female swimmer by 1.75 seconds at NCAA championship)

“On May 10th, I spoke again with head coach Alex Toturra and YMCA CEO Angie Saul. I was laughed at and quoted when I asked how long had I known about the I asked, and rephrased the question,” Wheeler said.

The YMCA questioned the policy and suspended Wheeler for posting signs around the women’s locker room that said ‘Women should be safe here’. YMCA officials allegedly called her “hate speech” and kicked her out of the team because of her sign.

“I felt clearly wrong, so I spoke to the head coach, who I could trust,” Wheeler said with tears in his eyes.

The Independent Women’s Forum and the Illinois Freedom Caucus held a swimmer press conference on Thursday. Illinois legislators Adam Niemberg, Brad Halbrook and David Freese all spoke at the conference.

“Ladies and gentlemen, young women are being targeted for simply speaking out against biological men and are being allowed to not only perform as men in women’s sports but also break into locker rooms. We all know what’s going on nationally,” Niemberg said.

“We are here today because we can no longer afford to pretend this is someone else’s business,” Nienberg said.

Former NCAA swimmers Paula Scanlan and Kaitlyn Wheeler also shared their experiences swimming with biological human Leah Thomas.

“I want my future daughters and your future daughters to not only be able to compete fairly in sports, but also have a safe changing space,” Wheeler said.

“We have to defend our freedoms or they will continue to be taken away,” Wheeler said.

Scanlan explained how her mother helped her get dressed and learn to swim when she was a little girl, and talks about her journey to comfort in the locker room that was shattered by Thomas. “I urge the YMCA of Springfield, Illinois, along with the Independent Women’s Forum, to reconsider their policies,” Scanlan told the audience.

Totula, Saul and the YMCA did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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