A 16-year-old competitive swimmer in Illinois alleges she was dismissed from her YMCA team after protesting the presence of transgender individuals in the girls' locker room. The incident, which unfolded at the Springfield YMCA, began when Abbigail Wheeler noticed transgender individuals in the locker room while changing. She reported her discomfort to her coach, Alex Totura, who allegedly told her he was unable to address the situation.
Wheeler's father then escalated the issue to the YMCA's CEO, Angie Sowle, during a parent meeting, but received a similar response. Parents' subsequent requests for trans individuals to use private facilities and for the YMCA to communicate its policy to the swim team were reportedly denied. Following these unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue, Wheeler and a teammate displayed signs advocating for women's rights and safe sport in designated female areas. After informing her coach about the signs, Wheeler claims he accused her of "hate speech" and barred her from the swim team and pool area.
This story gained traction when former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines shared it on social media. Gaines, who famously tied with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in a 2022 NCAA championship, highlighted the parallels between Wheeler's experience and her own. While the Springfield YMCA denies Wheeler's claim of being removed from the team, stating she left voluntarily, the incident has reignited the debate surrounding transgender access to sex-segregated spaces. The YMCA maintains its commitment to inclusivity and cites Illinois law protecting transgender individuals' right to use the restroom corresponding to their gender identity. This incident follows similar controversies across the nation, including a California teen who reported encountering a naked transgender individual in a YMCA locker room and an 80-year-old Washington woman banned from her local YMCA for objecting to a transgender employee in the women’s locker room. The Illinois Freedom Caucus has announced a press conference to address Wheeler’s situation, further intensifying the spotlight on this contentious issue.
