{"id":2134926,"date":"2023-12-27T20:35:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-28T01:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-hill-i-will-die-on-sage-steele-says-espn-told-her-not-to-talk-about-lia-thomas-she-disobeyed\/"},"modified":"2023-12-27T20:38:02","modified_gmt":"2023-12-28T01:38:02","slug":"a-hill-i-will-die-on-sage-steele-says-espn-told-her-not-to-talk-about-lia-thomas-she-disobeyed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-hill-i-will-die-on-sage-steele-says-espn-told-her-not-to-talk-about-lia-thomas-she-disobeyed\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN silenced Sage Steele on discussing Lia Thomas, but she defied their orders"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fa-hill-i-will-die-on-sage-steele-says-espn-told-her-not-to-talk-about-lia-thomas-she-disobeyed%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2134926&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>ESPN\u2062 Anchor Sage Steele \u200bDefies Former Employer&#8217;s Request to \u2063Stay Silent on Trans Swimmer Dominating Women&#8217;s \u2063Swimming<\/h2>\n<p>Former \u200dESPN anchor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/topic\/sage-steele\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sage Steele<\/a> has revealed that\u2063 she was told by her former \u200bemployer to stop discussing the dominance\u200b of trans \u2064collegiate swimmer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/topic\/lia-thomas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lia Thomas<\/a> in \u2063women&#8217;s swimming. However, Steele defiantly\u2064 disobeyed this request.<\/p>\n<p>During a \u2064conversation \u200bwith NCAA swimmer-turned-advocate \u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/topic\/riley-gaines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Riley Gaines<\/a>, Steele\u200d expressed her unwavering \u2062support for female athletes like Gaines, stating that she was willing \u2062to fight for them\u2062 no matter the consequences.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I was asked to stop tweeting \u200cabout it. I \u200bwas\u200c asked to stop doing anything, saying anything \u200cabout it\u200d on social media because I was &#8216;offending&#8217; others \u2063at the company,&#8221; Steele recalled.\u200b &#8220;I made sure \u200cI sent\u2064 off \u2063another tweet that night \u200cafter I\u2063 received that email. \u2064Because, no, let&#8217;s stop living in \u200cthis lie.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Steele pointed out \u200cthe hypocrisy of ESPN allowing other public figures at\u2064 the company to discuss unrelated political issues while silencing her on \u200ba topic directly related to sports. She firmly stood her ground, stating, &#8220;If we&#8217;re gonna preach on ESPN, \u2063and all of these\u2064 things, then I&#8217;m gonna stand up for all these women \u2014 many\u200b of whom are afraid \u200cto do what Riley Gaines is\u2064 doing, to do what I&#8217;m doing, at a much lesser level than Riley.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is a hill I will \u2064die\u200b on, 100%,&#8221; Steele declared. She emphasized that the facts, science, and biology support her stance and challenged anyone to prove her wrong or tell her to\u2062 stop supporting women.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sage Steele says ESPN\u200b told her to stop talking about Lia Thomas\u200c \u2013 a man destroying\u200c women in\u2063 the pool \u2013 but\u200c she \u2062refused to comply.<\/p>\n<p>Incredible bravery\u2064 from <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sagesteele?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SageSteele<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wh9CyHESrd\">pic.twitter.com\/wh9CyHESrd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 David Hookstead (@dhookstead) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dhookstead\/status\/1739976588668572098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 27, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Last\u2064 year, Gaines competed\u200c in the women&#8217;s 200 freestyle at the NCAA Division I Women&#8217;s\u2063 Championships \u2063and tied with trans-identifying swimmer Lia Thomas, who had previously competed on men&#8217;s teams. However,\u2064 Thomas was given the only fifth\u2062 place trophy \u2063for a photo-op, while Gaines was informed that her trophy would be mailed to her.<\/p>\n<p>Steele faced consequences for criticizing ESPN and The Walt Disney Co.&#8217;s COVID vaccine \u2064mandate during an appearance on Jay Cutler&#8217;s \u2064podcast, &#8220;Uncut.&#8221; She was\u200d taken \u200doff ESPN airwaves and \u200dremoved\u2063 from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-makes-skin-color-a-litmus-test-for-being-a-u-s-diplomat\/\" title=\"Biden Administration Makes Skin Color A Litmus Test For Being A U.S. Diplomat\">high-profile assignments<\/a>. Steele later filed a lawsuit against ESPN.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-describedby=\"sk-tooltip-9096\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1700760801843000&#038;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG\">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ \u2063APP<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Despite fully complying with\u200b ESPN&#8217;s policy, Sage Steele was punished for\u2062 speaking her truth in violation of freedom of speech protections under Connecticut law and the \u200dU.S. constitution,&#8221; stated \u200cher attorney\u2062 Bryan Freedman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indystar.com\/story\/sports\/2022\/04\/28\/sage-steele-sues-espn-free-speech-covid-vaccine-mandate-remarks\/9568500002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">last year<\/a>. &#8220;ESPN violated her free\u2062 speech rights, retaliated against her, reprimanded her, scapegoated her, allowed the media and her peers to\u200b excoriate her and forced her to apologize simply because her personal opinions did not align with Disney&#8217;s\u2062 corporate philosophy of the moment. Sage is standing up to corporate America to ensure\u200c employees don&#8217;t get their \u200drights \u200dtrampled on or their\u200d opinions silenced.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit was <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/espn-sage-steele-covid-lawsuit-settlement-fb53a354f325c8a46c13a2ee4c15b204\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">settled<\/a> this year, and Steele left ESPN to exercise her\u200c &#8220;first amendment\u2063 rights more freely,&#8221; as she announced on social media.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/watch-sparks-fly-between-riley-gaines-and-dem-rep-during-hearing-on-biden-proposal-to-rewrite-title-ix\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WATCH: Sparks Fly Between Riley Gaines And\u200d Dem Rep During Hearing On Biden Proposal To Rewrite Title IX<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u200d How does Sage Steele&#8217;s decision to speak out \u200breflect her commitment to fairness and equality in women&#8217;s sports?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Her\u2062 decision\u2063 to speak\u2062 out. She revealed that\u2062 she was demoted from\u2064 her position at ESPN and was taken\u2063 off hosting duties, despite her successful tenure at \u2063the network. However, Steele remains \u2063resolute in her stance and continues to advocate for fairness and equality in women&#8217;s sports.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/10-sports-that-put-cross-dressing-men-ahead-of-womens-fair-play\/\" title=\"10 Sports That Prioritize Cross-Dressing Men Over Women's Fair Play\">debate surrounding transgender athletes<\/a> in women&#8217;s sports is a contentious one. While\u2063 some \u2062argue that transgender women should be\u200d able to compete based on their identified gender, others raise concerns \u2064about \u200cthe\u200d potential advantages they may have due to biological differences. This issue has\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/william-cogswell-defeats-incumbent-charleston-mayor-john-tecklenburg\/\" title=\"William Cogswell ousts Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg\">sparked intense \u200cdiscussions<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massachusetts-town-hoists-palestinian-flag-over-public-park\/\" title=\"Massachusetts Town Hoists Palestinian Flag Over Public Park\">ignited passionate opinions<\/a> from various \u2062individuals and organizations.<\/p>\n<p>Steele&#8217;s refusal to stay silent on Lia Thomas&#8217; dominance in women&#8217;s swimming reflects her commitment\u2064 to women&#8217;s rights and \u200dher belief in \u2063the importance of preserving \u200cfair competition. She recognizes \u200cthe courage of athletes like Riley Gaines, who are willing to challenge the status quo and\u2064 demand a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brexit-trade-deal-published-as-uk-calls-for-end-to-ugly-divisions\/\" title=\"Brexit trade deal published as UK calls for end to \u2018ugly\u2019 divisions\">level playing field<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that ESPN sought \u2063to silence Steele&#8217;s opinions is a stark example of \u200dthe selective\u200c nature of freedom of speech within certain organizations. \u200dSteele rightfully pointed \u2064out the inconsistency of allowing other \u200dpublic figures at ESPN\u200b to engage in political discussions while imposing restrictions on her ability to discuss an issue directly related \u200cto\u200d sports.<\/p>\n<p>Steele&#8217;s defiance highlights \u200cthe need for open dialogue and \u200dcontinued \u200cexamination of\u2062 the transgender athlete issue in\u200d women&#8217;s sports. By refusing to \u200bbow down to pressure, she has become \u2064a powerful voice for athletes\u2063 who may feel marginalized \u2062or unable to express their concerns.<\/p>\n<p>The crux of Steele&#8217;s argument lies in her assertion \u2064that facts, science, and biology support her stance. She challenges \u2062anyone to\u200c prove her wrong or convince her to stop supporting \u2063women in sports. Her\u200b unwavering dedication to \u2062this cause serves as an inspiration for those\u200b who\u200d believe in fair competition and the preservation of the integrity of \u2064women&#8217;s sports.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200b impact of Steele&#8217;s actions extends far beyond her\u2064 own\u200b experiences. By bringing attention \u2062to the issue, she has\u2062 sparked \u2063a broader \u200bconversation about the complexities of transgender inclusion in\u200d women&#8217;s sports. Her\u2064 bravery in speaking out serves as a beacon of \u2062hope for athletes, advocates, and supporters who\u2064 strive for \u2063a more equitable future.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, ESPN anchor Sage \u2063Steele&#8217;s refusal to stay silent on Lia\u2064 Thomas&#8217; dominance in women&#8217;s\u200c swimming is a testament to\u2062 her unwavering commitment \u200dto\u200b fairness in sports. Despite \u2062the consequences she faced, Steele stood\u200c her ground\u200d and continues to advocate for female athletes. Her actions have generated \u200cimportant discussions surrounding\u2063 transgender inclusion in women&#8217;s sports, and her bravery serves as an inspiration to those fighting for equality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ex-ESPN anchor Sage Steele revealed that her previous employer instructed her to refrain from discussing trans collegiate swimmer Lia Thomas&#8217; success in women&#8217;s swimming. However, Steele defied this request and expressed her support for female athletes like Riley Gaines. She emphasized that advocating for them was a cause she was prepared to defend at any cost<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":2134927,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2134926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2134926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2134926"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2134926\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2134927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2134926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2134926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2134926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}