The head of a state tennis association has stepped down after a biological male was permitted to compete against women in a tournament.
Jackie Fulkrod resigned from her role as president of the Cheyenne Tennis Association board, citing her opposition to trans-identifying male player Brooklyn Ross participating in the Wyoming Governor’s Cup this weekend against women.
“I think a man playing against a woman is a very unfair matchup when it’s specifically meant for women in that specific draw,” Fulkrod told the Cowboy State Daily. “I feel like having a transgender athlete compete in the women’s draw is against my personal integrity and what I believe and value.
“My decision to resign was solely based on the fact that we didn’t have any way to protect our organization or protect our female athletes that are going to be playing in the tournament,” Fulkrod added.
Her mother, Mary Fulkrod, who was also part of the eight-member board, resigned in protest as well.
Ross, a 27-year-old trans-identifying male athlete from Colorado, is scheduled to compete in the women’s open singles division of the tournament. Ross has participated in various tournaments nationwide and recently completed his junior year at the University of Texas at Tyler, an NCAA Division II school.
At 6 feet tall, Ross is reputed to be one of the top players on the team. Six years ago, he began identifying as female and embarked on the gender transition process.
“They probably haven’t had the experience of any trans woman being able to play, and I’m glad to be able to be able to [sic] kind of stand up for some of those people without a voice,” Ross said in an interview with the Cowboy State Daily. “Kids that have to choose between their authenticity and playing a game.”
The Wyoming Governor’s Cup serves as an opportunity for players to improve their United States Tennis Association (USTA) ranking, which college coaches frequently take into account during recruitment decisions. The tournament is under the governance of the organization, the Daily Wire reported.
“Tennis thrives when the sport embraces inclusion,” the USTA said in its statement regarding trans-identifying athletes. “For that reason, tennis is open to all regardless of one’s age, ethnicity, race, religious background, sexual orientation or gender identity.”
For Fulkrod, she said she understands the director’s fear of a lawsuit, but she disagrees with the decision anyway.
“I thought this is wrong, this is not something we want to set as a precedent in Cheyenne because what’s the next thing?” she said.
The participation of trans-identifying male athletes on women’s teams has become a contentious topic in recent years. Female athletes have voiced concerns about having to compete against men, which they feel has impacted their chances of receiving awards. Additionally, some women and girls have expressed discomfort regarding sharing locker rooms with their biologically male teammates and competitors.
