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Alexa Anderson, the former Oregon high school athlete who made waves when she refused to share the podium with a transgender competitor earlier this year, had a message for girls still experiencing the same issues Monday.
While polls suggest most Americans believe women should only compete against women in sports, not all states have complied with President Donald Trump’s order to prevent transgender athletes from competing against the gender they identify as.
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Alexa Anderson is a former Oregon high school girls track and field star and current University of South Alabama women’s athlete. (Courtesy of Alexa Anderson)
Appearing on “America’s Newsroom” on Monday, Anderson said both girls and women need to take a stand.
“My message is that it’s not fair and it’s not safe and we need to stand up as the girls who are affected by this issue,” she told Pakinomist Channel’s Dana Perino. “It is our job to stand up and tell those responsible that we are not okay with this and we want change.”
Anderson and her teammate, Reese Eckard, decided to step off the podium after finishing third at the Oregon State High Jump Championships. The moment went viral across the internet and helped intensify the spotlight on transgender athletes competing against women.
Oregon girls’ athletes Reese Eckard and Alexa Anderson are not standing on a medal podium next to a trans opponent. (Courtesy of America First Policy Institute)
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Anderson recently told Pakinomist Digital the death threats she received and the struggle to even get her medal from the Oregon School Activities Association.
While speaking with Perino, Anderson recalled the moment she decided to take her stand.
“It was a very stressful moment,” Anderson said. “There were a lot of eyes on us. But deep down I knew that it’s not fair to let biological men into women’s sports, and I had to make that decision for all the girls who had been affected by it.”
She added that she wouldn’t have done anything differently.
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“Even though there’s been a lot of negative talk and outcry, I’ve been overwhelmed by the support and kindness from so many people that it’s been worth it. Just hope we get change,” she said.
