Springfield | A teen from Chatham is leading the fight against a YMCA policy that allows biological men to use the women’s locker room by claiming they are transgender. The girl, 16-year-old Abbigail Wheeler, was a member of the Springfield Kerasotes YMCA Typhoons Swim Team until management refused to act on her concerns and, she said, made it impossible for her to participate.
The teen, who attends a Baptist church in Sangamon County, became emotional speaking about the situation at a press conference held at a park across the street from the Springfield Kerasotes YMCA on July 13. It was hosted by the Illinois Freedom Caucus.
Wheeler described how, after practice on April 27, she informed Coach Alex Totura about seeing a man wearing a woman’s swimsuit in the locker room. According to Wheeler, he brushed off her concern saying there was nothing that could be done, because the transgender woman’s presence “was permitted by Illinois law.” However, he told her that she could move to a private changing area such as the family locker room or stop using the facilities if she was bothered.
Her voice quivered as she described the coach as “someone I was supposed to trust.” And, how her “feelings of fear were pushed aside.”
Her father, Dan, a 13-year-veteran of World of Swimming, described how he and others tried to work with YMCA officials to find a solution to the matter, but were repeatedly told discrimination against the transgender community was against the law and nothing could be done.
It was nearly a month later that Wheeler and a friend posted signs in the locker room “to express our concerns and to let people know what was actually happening.” The next day at practice she was informed not only that the signs were “hate speech” and “disrespectful,” but that “it was probably not appropriate for us to practice that evening.” The signs read “Women deserve to be safe here” and “Biological Women Only.”
According to Wheeler, officials later contacted her parents to say she was banned from the YMCA until “she met with the staff, and they further explained the punishments” she would receive.
Wheeler’s father said he doesn’t want the matter to become political or doesn’t want to sue anyone. “I’ve been asked, ‘Why are you doing this?’,” he said. “I don’t want to do this. I’ve prayed about this. The resounding answer has been you already have two daughters this has happened to. Does it really take all three?”
Multiple offenses
Signs posted in support of Wheeler and other women and girls.
Wheeler has ties to former 12-time All-American swimmer Riley Gaines, who is known for speaking out on the integrity of women’s sports and biological women’s rights. Wheeler’s older sister, Kaitlynn, swam with Gaines at the University of Kentucky.
The sisters appeared with Gaines in a recent Fox News interview where Kaitlynn shared how she was present in the locker room at the NCAA Division 1 meet in 2022, where female swimmers were forced to compete and change in the same locker room as transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. Gaines began tweeting about the incident and the link between the sisters on July 9, which helped to bring it to national attention.
Kaitlynn said she’s proud of her little sister “for standing up for what’s right.” However, she said “it’s been infuriating” to see her “forced off the swim team and banned from the YMCA of all places.”
Gaines was not present, but in a statement called Kaitlynn one of her best friends. And, she offered her full support saying she was “proud to be able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the sisters” as a team.
YMCA denies dismissal
Throughout the controversy, the YMCA has maintained it is a safe space. YMCA Communications Director Lou Bart told WMAY radio the facility is safe and there are no credible allegations of wrongdoing.
“Some people that are members of ours, that are transgender, that are known to us, that’s because they want to be known to us,” said Bart. “I’m sure there are others that we have no idea, and I’m not concerned about that. So, we can’t discriminate against anybody.” When similar incidents have occurred in the state, the Illinois Human Rights Act has been cited as the legal reason.
State Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud), who is also an attorney and a member of the caucus, joined the Wheeler family at the press conference. He said the Illinois Human Rights Act is “commonly misquoted and misrepresented” in this area. The section of the law which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity also states, “Nothing in this Article shall apply to… Facilities Distinctly Private.”
He said the statute listed “those private in nature such as restrooms, shower rooms, bath houses, and health clubs.” “Clearly,” Freiss said, “there is no requirement to allow biological males in women’s locker rooms.”
When asked by the media about the YMCA’s claim that they did not ban the girl, Wheeler’s father said the YMCA made it impossible for her to remain on the team by canceling meetings and at other times refusing to meet with the family. Wheeler is now on another swim team at a different facility.