Wyoming Tennis President quits due to unfairness of transgender male competing against women.
The President of a Wyoming Tennis Association Resigns in Protest
The president of the Cheyenne Tennis Association board, Jackie Fulkrod, has made the difficult decision to step down from her position. Her resignation comes as a result of her opposition to a trans-identifying male player, Brooklyn Ross, being allowed to compete against women in the Wyoming Governor’s Cup tournament.
“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.”
Fulkrod’s decision to resign was driven by her concern for the organization’s ability to protect its female athletes participating in the tournament. Her mother, Mary Fulkrod, who also served on the board, has resigned as well.
Brooklyn Ross, a 27-year-old trans-identifying male athlete from Colorado, is set to compete in the women’s open singles division of the tournament. Standing at 6 feet tall, Ross is known as one of the best players on the team. Having identified as female and undergone the gender transition process six years ago, Ross believes in standing up for those who often go unheard.
“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 told the Cowboy State Daily. “Kids that have to choose between their authenticity and playing a game.”
The Wyoming Governor’s Cup is an important tournament for players looking to raise their United States Tennis Association ranking, which college coaches often consider in recruitment decisions. However, Fulkrod strongly disagrees with the decision to allow Ross to compete, fearing the potential consequences it may have for future events.
While the tournament director, Peg Connor, did not comment on who made the final decision, she pointed to the United States Tennis Association’s policies, which emphasize inclusivity and acceptance.
“Tennis thrives when the sport embraces inclusion,” the USTA said in its statement on 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.”
Despite understanding the director’s position due to potential lawsuits, Fulkrod firmly believes that allowing this precedent to be set is a mistake.
“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.
Fulkrod had dedicated two years of her life to serving on the tennis association board before making the difficult decision to resign. The issue of trans-identifying male athletes competing in women’s sports has become a contentious topic, with female athletes expressing concerns about fairness and discomfort in shared spaces.
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