A transgender tennis player has dropped out of the Governor’s Cup in Wyoming because of safety concerns and wanting to avoid a “circus” atmosphere.
Brooklyn Ross’ attendance sparked national outrage as Cheyenne Tennis Association president Jackie Fulkrod resigned in protest earlier this month.
Days after Fulkrod’s resignation, 27-year-old Ross announced she would not be attending the event, telling Cowboy State Daily that she did not want her presence to be the focus or that protests would ruin the event, which was scheduled to take place from March 4 to 20 .to August 6th.
“It was becoming increasingly clear that the setting might not have been a typical tennis tournament where things got out of control and people’s safety, including my own, was at risk,” she said.
The Colorado athlete added, “I was just scared that this would turn into a crazy event with people protesting.”
Brooklyn Ross, whose allowability to compete in the Wyoming event sparked national outrage, withdrew from the competition over safety concerns
Jackie Fulkrod, president of the Cheyenne Tennis Association, resigned over the decision to allow Ross to compete in the women’s singles category of the Wyoming Governor’s Cup
Fulkrod, who previously said “a man playing a woman is a very unfair duel,” told the outlet that despite Ross’s elimination from the tournament, she stands by her retirement.
“Regardless of the draw, I am a firm believer that biological men do not belong in the sport for biological women, and in this case specifically in a women-only draw,” Fulkrod told the local outlet. “That won’t change.”
Ross, an NCAA Division II collegiate player, was scheduled to play in the tournament’s open singles division, which has no age restriction but typically features players from the advanced high school level through women in their 30s and 40s .
She said she received no personal threats and that tournament director Peg Connor supports her participation. However, he did point out that if the protests got out of hand, the event would have to be canceled for everyone, Ross claimed.
“And then nobody who signed up could play,” she added. “It’s just a total waste.” I just want people to be able to play and it doesn’t turn into a crazy event.”
The tournament is a recreational tournament and does not offer cash prizes. It celebrates its 51st year.
Ross, who would likely win as she is better placed than the other contenders, said she just wanted to take a trip.
“I signed up for this tournament just so I could take a little trip to Wyoming and see it a little, play some tennis and have fun,” she said.
Ross recently completed a tennis season at a Texas college in the NCAA Division II
Ross said she received no personal threats and that tournament director Peg Connor supports her participation
Ross made the switch six years ago and has been playing collegiate tennis since 2019 — most recently completing a season at a Texas college in the NCAA Division II — the University of Texas at Tyler.
She previously said the controversy surrounding her attendance at the Wyoming event was the first backlash she faced in her career.
“Up to that point, I’ve never had a problem or anyone contacting the media or anything like that, or any concerns about the safety of myself or anyone else,” Ross said. “So I don’t think it’s worth it.”
Fulkrod, whose mother also resigned from the club’s board due to Ross’ participation in the upcoming Governor’s Cup, defended her decision to step down.
“I feel that having a transgender athlete participate in the women’s draw violates my personal integrity and my beliefs and values.”
“My decision to resign was based solely on the fact that we had no way of protecting our organization or our female athletes who will be competing in the tournament,” Fulkrod added.
The Governor’s Cup tournament is overseen by the United States Tennis Association.
When asked about the decision to allow Ross to compete with women, director Connor Cowboy State Daily referred to the USTA’s transgender policy.
“Tennis thrives when the sport promotes inclusion,” USTA says in its statement on transgender athletes. “For this reason, tennis is open to everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, race, religious background, sexual orientation or gender identity.”