Former Roanoke College swimmer Lily Mullens, known for taking a public stand against the inclusion of a transgender athlete in her women’s team, has voiced her concerns. This reaction follows Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger’s withdrawal of a proposed regulation that aimed to safeguard female-only sports and spaces.
Mullens, along with Hungarian Olympian Réka György and former teammate Carter Satterfield, petitioned the Virginia State Board of Health to introduce regulations. They aimed to prevent biological males from joining female athletic teams or accessing female-designated areas. Mullens told OutKick that Governor Youngkin’s previous leadership sought to protect women’s sports. However, she believes Governor Spanberger has halted this progress.
Governor’s Policy Reversal
Mullens expressed disappointment, asserting that Spanberger’s lack of public transparency shows disregard for Virginia’s female athletes. She feels this undermines the efforts to maintain fairness in women’s sports. Mullens questions Spanberger’s leadership style, concerned it negatively impacts female competitors.
According to Mullens, biological distinctions between men and women necessitate separate competitions to ensure equity. She lamented the reversal of commitments made under Youngkin’s administration, which she saw as protective of women’s sports.
Rising National Attention
Mullens and her teammates first attracted widespread attention in 2023 by opposing a transgender student joining their swimming team. Although the student eventually withdrew, the incident highlighted their concerns. The petition they filed in April 2025 received over 2,300 public comments. The Virginia Board of Health unanimously voted in favor of regulatory changes, and the Youngkin administration initiated further action.
Despite initial advances, the State Board of Health decided not to proceed with the regulatory measures six months into Spanberger’s leadership. This decision was made without a public announcement, which disappointed advocates like György and Mullens.
Advocacy and Criticism
Réka György, who had competed against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in 2022, echoed Mullens’ sentiments. György’s experiences motivated her advocacy for sex-separated sports. She had been a key proponent in filing the petition, supported initially by Governor Youngkin.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger emphasized her preference for a case-by-case evaluation process for transgender athletes. She argued for considering factors like age and competitive level, citing it as effective before her tenure.
Requests for comments from Spanberger’s office remain unanswered. Sports reporter Jackson Thompson highlighted these issues within sports, noting their significance in political and cultural discourse.