Illinois Freedom Caucus rallies behind 16-year-old swimmer who claims she was kicked off team

A 16-year-old Springfield area girl who said she was kicked off the YMCA swim team after calling attention to her coach and YMCA authorities about a man using the women's locker room drew hundreds of supporters to a rally and press conference in the shadow of the Kerasotes YMCA Thursday.

Abbigail Wheeler of Loami said she also was banned from the YMCA after making and posting signs in the women's locker room she was told amounted to "hate speech."

Thursday's gathering was put on the Illinois Freedom Caucus and the Independent Women's Forum.

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Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, and chairman of the caucus, called the leaders of Springfield YMCA "spineless" for their actions.

“The Springfield YMCA has gender neutral bathrooms,” Miller said. “If biological males don’t want to change in front of other biological males, then let them change by themselves in a gender-neutral bathroom. If it is wrong to require biological males to change in front of other biological males because they are uncomfortable, then why is it OK to disregard the feelings and concerns of biological women who don’t want to share their private spaces with naked men?

"Of course, the only solution the radical left will allow is the one that forces young women to share their locker rooms with men."

The Illinois Freedom Caucus is comprised of seven members of the General Assembly who advocate "for limited government, lower taxes and accountability and integrity in government," according to a news statement.

Wheeler's father, Dan, and sister, Kaitlynn, also spoke at the rally at Rotary Park that attracted about 300 people, including a handful of counter-protesters.

Kaitlynn Wheeler is a former swimmer at the University of Kentucky where she was a teammate of Riley Gaines, who has campaigned against the participation of trans women in women's sports.

Gaines was scheduled to be at the rally but was unable to attend.

Abbigail Wheeler said the locker room incident happened April 27 and that she had noticed seeing the man in the women's locker room before.

Wheeler and a friend put up signs in the women's locker room that said things like "Biological Women Only," but Wheeler claimed she was told the signs were "hate speech."

"No one is forced to use any space in our facility that makes them uncomfortable," said Lou Bart, a spokesman for the YMCA. "We offer multiple options for private changing spaces and restrooms for all members."

The accusation that Wheeler was removed from the YMCA and prevented from participating on the swim team was false, Bart said.

"The swimmer’s family informed the YMCA through email that they would be leaving the YMCA and their swimmer would no longer participate on the swim team," Bart said.

He added it was "disturbing" that certain legislators would use the YMCA building as a backdrop and "demand that we violate the law. The YMCA of Springfield has been serving children and families in this community for the past 150 years. We are now, as we have always been, a powerful advocate for those we serve. Our responsibility is to keep our members in our facilities safe. Any incidents of abuse or inappropriate behavior is documented and reported to authorities."

Bob Booker of Springfield came out to the rally with his wife, Sharon, in support of the Wheeler family.

"We know the Wheeler family well," Bob Booker said. "Our grandson swam with (Kaitlynn and Abbigail). I believe their story. (The YMCA) is just trying to cover its rear end. There's more to that story than they're even telling. Right is right and wrong is wrong and if you can't tell the difference, something is wrong with your leadership."

Sharon Booker pointed out that Abbigail Wheeler was the best swimmer on the team "so she would not quit on her own volition. (The YMCA) has forced her out and I'm pretty upset about it."

The Bookers are members of the YMCA "up to this point," Bob Booker said. The couple hasn't canceled its membership "but we haven't renewed it yet (either)."

Elizabeth Canas of Springfield came out in support the transgender community. Canas held a sign that read, "The world does not just have two sex categories, male or female."

"I was scared and I'm shaking. My adrenaline is going, but I had to come out," Canas said. "I have to come out for these people. No one else is doing it for them, so that's why I'm supporting them."

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Supporters rallied behind a 16-year-old girl kicked off a YMCA swim team