“The Springfield YMCA Typhoons Swim Team (SPY) in Springfield, Illinois now allows biological men who pretend to be women to enter the girls’ locker room—including when minor girls are present and undressing. The coaches and YMCA administrators began this practice without telling any girls or their parents.

Here is an excerpt from a summary provided by the father of one of the girl swimmers at the center of what should be a shocking event:

On April 27, 2023, my sixteen-year-old daughter, a member of the YMCA SPY Swim Team, entered the girl’s locker to change out of her swimsuit and noticed a couple transgender individuals sitting in the locker room. My daughter went back out on the pool deck and informed the head swim coach, Alex Totura, of the situation and he responded to her by stating, “There’s nothing I can do about it.”

On May 10, 2023, the SPY Swim Team held their monthly parent meeting where the issue of girls’ locker room use by biological males was brought up. The meeting was attended by Angie Sowle, Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA. The parents were told there’s nothing that can be done about it. Parents asked if the YMCA could ask the transgender members to use the Family Changing Area (private bathrooms with toilet, sink shower and changing area) instead of the girl’s locker room.

The YMCA staff said they could not do that because it is discrimination and against the law. Parents asked if the YMCA could send out a notification to swim team members that transgender people were using the girl’s locker room so that member could make informed decisions for their family. Again, the YMCA staff said that they could not do that because it is discrimination and against the law.

After the Parent Meeting, my daughter, her mom, and another swim mom approached Ms. Sowle and Coach Totura. My daughter said that she didn’t understand why this is happening and asked how long the YMCA knew about this. Coach Totura laughed and stated, “transgender people have been around a long time.” My daughter then stated, “That is not the question I asked.” She asked the question again and Ms. Sowle responded, “We have known for a while.” A meeting was set up by the YMCA staff for parents to attend and voice their concerns regarding this matter.

The meeting was to take place on May 18, 2023, and the YMCA Administrative office. Without reasonable notification, the YMCA canceled the meeting about two hours before it was to take place. Feeling dismissed without resolution, my daughter and one teammate hung signs in the girl’s locker room on May 23, 2023 in support of their position. My daughter’s signs read “Women’s Rights,” “Biological Women Only,” and “Safe Sport.” On May 24, 2023, at the beginning of the normal swim team practice, coach Totura and Kenzie Primus, Branch Director of the Kerasotes Branch (westside) pulled all the girls aside for a meeting to discuss the hanging of the signs.

They indicated that this was not acceptable, and it was “hate speech.” My daughter approached the coach Totura immediately after the meeting and indicated that she was involved in the hanging of the signs. She said that she did this because her previous attempts to correct this were dismissed by the YMCA staff and her coach. Coach Totura said that this was hate speech; she was not allowed to participate with the swim team; and was asked to leave the pool area.”

Speaking the truth about reality and sex can be considered hate speech.  It is precisely situations like this in which independent objective reality MUST be the basis of law and how we operate our society.  No law should be based on the shifting sands of ‘gender identity’ or ‘self-id’.