Chambana Sun

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) is defending a 16-year-old female athlete who objected to using a YMCA locker room with a transgender woman. 

Miller represents the 15th Congressional District covering much of Central Illinois.

“This spring, a 16-year-old girl swimming for a local swim team in my district was banned from the YMCA for speaking out against men undressing in the girls’ locker room,” Miller said in a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. "My constituent Abbigail, was simply exercising her right to privacy and safety. She should not be punished for defending herself and her teammates. In Congress, I am committed to defending our daughters from the Biden Administration’s radical changes to Title IX which will make this an everyday occurrence for young girls across our country.” 

She suggested “The YMCA should immediately reverse their decision and apologize to Abbigail and her family. YMCA leadership should prioritize the safety and privacy of young girls instead of prioritizing a radical, left-wing political ideology that is allowing adult men to expose themselves in front of our young girls. Men should never be allowed to violate girls' locker rooms and bathrooms.” 

“Governor Pritzker continues to promote policies that put our daughters at risk. His failure to address the concerns of parents and protect the safety and privacy of young girls in Illinois is deeply concerning,” Miller said. “Parents, please, we must speak out to protect our daughters and end this madness!” 

The teenager – Abbigail Wheeler – later faced consequences and was ejected from the swim team. 

“I was made to feel as though I was in the wrong,” Wheeler said at the July 13 press conference. “I was made to feel as though there was something wrong with me feeling uncomfortable changing in the women’s locker room where biological men were being allowed to undress in the same space as me and my underage teammates.” 

The issue has sparked a debate about the rights and comfort of transgender individuals in gender-segregated spaces, with some advocating for gender-neutral facilities and others arguing for the protection of women and girls in locker rooms. 

“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,” Miller's husband, Illinois Freedom Caucus Chairman and State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Charleston) said according to The Center Square. “Of course, the only solution the radical left will allow is the one that forces young women to share their locker rooms with men.” 

Wheeler's father discussed the issue with Breakthrough Ideas. 

“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,” Dan Wheeler told Breakthrough Ideas. “They indicated that this was not acceptable, and it was 'hate speech.' My daughter approached 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. 

The congresswoman previously expressed support for women athletes who have been compelled to compete against transgender men. She held a press conference with former college swimmer Riley Gaines, who has been vocal about opposing the inclusion of larger, faster transgender athletes assigned male at birth in women's sports. Miller is advocating for the protection and defense of children, particularly girls, from what she views as a radical and divisive ideology that undermines women's rights.