USAC Needs To Be Sacked

Hi Comrads,

I am currently on break for the holidays but felt the need to share what's been happening in the state of cycling this past week.

"On December 12th at the USA Cycling Cyclocross Nationals event, 5 representatives of Save Women’s Sports, a trans hate group, appeared with anti-trans signs to protest the fact that “female athletes [in the elite Women’s race] were being forced to compete against a male athlete” in the race. Though Save Women’s Sports claims they were not there to harass anyone specifically, they strategically positioned themselves on the course during the race in a manner to maximize visibility by competitors (including members of the trans community) and international media. The Save Women's Sports slogans included "Females Demand Fairness," "Say NO To Males Competing As Females," and (of course) "Save Women's Sports.” Such actions are nothing short of conduct designed to elicit fear, intimidation, or humiliation.

USA Cycling states that it's mission is to "ensure people feel comfortable and concluded in the USA Cycling community, regardless of gender, gender identity, race, class, or any other perceived difference." By allowing the SWS representatives to protest the inclusion of trans athletes in the women's race, and to do so in the presence of trans athletes on international broadcasts, USA Cycling sent the message that anti-trans messages and protests are acceptable at their events.

We respectfully request the following from USA Cycling:

1. Publicly denounce the actions that took places this past weekend by Save Women's Sports.

2. Ban Save Women's Sport representatives signs, and its from future USA Cycling and USAC sanctioned events.

3. Unequivocally state that trans women are women.

4. Work with SafeSport to remove SWS's public list of "males in female sports," which creates notable safety concerns for our community members.

5. Create and publicize a strategic plan for 2022 with specific action items designed to advocate for and protect our trans and nonbinary community members.

USAC has been urged by the community to take action for the past year. The time is now." - Stamina Racing Collective.

Since last weekends event, USA Cycling President & CEO Rob DeMartini has resigned. In his short time of employment, he occupied a space doing nothing to address diversity movements and anti-trans bills sweeping the country. While hate groups damaged the sport of cycling, he bid his time to become CEO of a mattress and pillow company, leaving the sport of cycling hanging on a thin thread.

The thing is, USAC has had a year and more to address the issues of inclusion in the sport and while many people of USAC have been also trying and do care, the leadership lacks. USAC has a lot of work to do and while there are some great folks doing a lot for them, the leadership needs to hear the cycling community loud and clear that they need to catch up to the change.

However, we have no hope in this sport changing. It's been stated today that USAC has hired a new cis white guy as CEO that is an insider and pet of the Walton bros. From what we see, The Walmartization of Cycling is here.

Who knows if it would work but here is what else you can do: Cancel your USAC membership: turn off auto renew as you decide whether you need them to race in 2022. Go into your USAC account, click into Purchase History > Subscriptions and turn off auto renew. You have the power. You do not need to automatically give them money in January.

Write them an email stating how transphobic hate rhetoric is abhorrent and should not be allowed at their events.

This sport needs a new governing body that actually protects athletes.