Are CFA's 145-Pound Women's Tourney Athletes Overshadowed by Transgender Controversy?
In the weeks since the first round of the CFA women’s 145-pound tournament in March, the media surrounding the event has quickly shifted from MMA to social commentary with the admission that one of the women fighting in the tournament, Fallon Fox, is a transgendered former man.
While statements have been issued by people involved with the CFA and both inside the sport and out, up until now, tournament favorite Peggy “Daywalker” Morgan has kept quiet.
“I feel like we all worked really, really hard and put a lot of time into it and we went out there and did what we needed to do to win, and I feel a little perturbed because I feel that Fallon should have disclosed that she was transgender before getting in,” said Morgan. “I feel like she must have known that it was going to cause an issue with the commission.
“By not disclosing her medical history before competing she was really kind of showing a lack of respect for the promotion, commission and the fighters who trained really, really hard to be in that position by kind of derailing the whole thing.”
Because Fox’s status as a transgender athlete was not cleared by the Florida State Boxing Commission, her licensing has come into question and because of such, the tournament’s second round was in limbo until the recently released May 24 date could be confirmed.
Morgan told MMAWeekly.com one of the biggest issues that she feels has lacked in the discussion has been that of the tournament’s seven other fighters’ rights and safety.
“I understand it’s necessary to protect (Fox’s) rights and make sure that she’s being treated fairly,” said Morgan. “And I do think that is something that should happen, but I feel like our safety should be protected as well.
“There have been some people who have been very vocal about protecting our safety, but I don’t feel like I’ve been hearing enough of that from every corner right now. It becomes very different if it’s your friend or girlfriend, your sister, your daughter or your mother who is going to do it. I feel like there are a lot of people out there with an agenda and they’re not thinking about our physical safety.”
Morgan hopes that going forward the press surrounding the CFA will once again focus on the tournament itself and showcase the remaining fighters in a positive light as opposed to what seems to have been a decidedly unpleasant turn the coverage has taken of late.
“I’m not doing this for attention, but I do feel like it’s put a negative spin on it,” said Morgan. “I don’t feel like the press this tournament is getting is the kind of press I would personally like. I’m not liking the kind of press we’re getting, not so much that I’m angry that I’m not getting more attention.
“I know I’m fighting Ashlee Evans-Smith and I’m training as though it’s happening next. I still have the same goals that I had going into it. It’s not getting to me; it’s just been kind frustrating and aggravating.”
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