The debate over transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports has reached a fever pitch in Virginia, with the state’s gubernatorial race now serving as a battleground for a much larger national conversation. At the center of this storm are Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger and her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, whose sharply contrasting views have drawn both fierce criticism and passionate support. The dispute has also reignited painful memories for former Roanoke College women’s swim captain Lily Mullens, who has become a vocal advocate for what she calls the protection of women’s rights in athletics.
On October 9, 2025, during the first televised debate of the gubernatorial race, Spanberger was asked a direct question: Would she rescind Governor Glen Youngkin’s executive order that bars biological males from competing in girls’ sports? Her answer, which quickly went viral and drew national attention, was measured but noncommittal. “My answer is that in each local community decisions should be made between parents and educators, and teachers in each community. It shouldn’t be dictated by politicians,” Spanberger said, as reported by Fox News Digital. She also emphasized her personal stake in the issue, adding, “I’m a mother of three daughters in Virginia public schools, and nothing is more important to me than their safety and their experience in schools.”
But for Lily Mullens, Spanberger’s response was not only insufficient—it was a betrayal. Mullens, who led a high-profile revolt against her college’s swim program in 2023 over the inclusion of a transgender athlete, did not mince words. In a statement to Fox News, she declared, “The cowardice and refusal to give a clear yes or no on keeping Governor Youngkin’s policy protecting Virginia’s girls destroys all trust in Spanberger’s judgment and integrity. I firmly believe that if you are unable to denounce such outward disregard for the rights of girls who live in the great Commonwealth of Virginia, then you are unworthy holding any office, let alone that of a Governor.”
Mullens accused Spanberger of “pandering to radical gender ideology,” a phrase that has become a rallying cry among activists who oppose transgender inclusion in women’s sports. She contrasted Spanberger’s approach with that of Earle-Sears, whom she described as “a true leader” committed to “protecting women and girls with the very thing Spanberger and her party lack: common sense.” Mullens concluded, “I can attest, as I know what it is like to feel as though your rights as a woman are completely overlooked by those in power.”
The roots of Mullens’s activism run deep. In 2023, she spearheaded a press conference and filed a lawsuit after a transgender swimmer joined the Roanoke College women’s team. The situation escalated when, according to Mullens, the trans athlete revealed to teammates a struggle with suicidal thoughts while lobbying to participate. The controversy caught the attention of Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who launched an investigation into the college’s handling of the matter. Miyares’s report concluded that Roanoke College had denied female swimmers “accommodations, advantages, and privileges on the basis of sex,” causing them “emotional, physical, and dignitary harms” in violation of the Virginia Human Rights Act (VHRA).
According to documents obtained by Fox News Digital, six female swimmers applied for May Term Travel Courses at Roanoke College just days before the press conference. Two weeks later, their applications were rejected by professors overseeing the Japan and Greece programs. Miyares’s findings suggested this constituted retaliation and discrimination, stating that the VHRA prohibits educational institutions from denying “any accommodations, advantages, or privileges on the basis of sex.” The report also indicated that the women affected could be eligible for financial damages under state law.
Roanoke College, however, has pushed back against these allegations. The school issued a statement categorically denying any violation of students’ human rights or acts of retaliation. “As the report says: As a factual matter, the Office does not find sufficient evidence that the women were denied the opportunity to compete in this case or that the College itself subjected the women to a hostile environment based on sex,” the college said. They emphasized that their policy was “more stringent than the NCAA position, which rendered the student ineligible to compete,” and called the accusation of faculty retaliation “patently false,” maintaining that faculty “acted in good faith and followed our usual process regarding student selection for May Term courses.”
The debate has not been confined to Roanoke College. Across Virginia, similar disputes are playing out. In August, the Department of Education found five Northern Virginia school districts in violation of Title IX for not rolling back policies that allow transgender students access to bathrooms and sports teams matching their gender identity. Last month, a federal judge dismissed lawsuits brought by two of those districts, upholding the Trump administration’s decision to restrict federal funding unless the districts changed their policies.
Meanwhile, a separate case involving two Virginia boys suspended for complaining about a transgender classmate using their locker room is currently winding its way through federal court. These incidents underscore the complexity and divisiveness of the issue, with legal, ethical, and deeply personal dimensions intersecting in schools and communities across the state.
On the campaign trail, Earle-Sears has seized on the controversy, using social media to highlight Spanberger’s perceived evasiveness. On October 10, she posted, “YIKES: Abigail Spanberger gives a 2-minute word salad defending her support for men in girls’ bathrooms and predators in their locker rooms.” The following day, Earle-Sears referenced a specific incident, writing, “This ‘woman’ — child predator Richard ‘Riki’ Cox — repeatedly used a girls’ locker room and exposed himself to young girls. Abigail Spanberger thinks he has the right to be there.”
Spanberger, for her part, has stood by her belief that these decisions should be made at the local level. However, she has faced additional criticism for refusing to withdraw her endorsement of Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones, after text messages surfaced in which he appeared to fantasize about violence against a Republican lawmaker. This has only added fuel to the fire for her detractors, who question her judgment and commitment to protecting women and girls.
Mullens, reflecting on her experience, said, “My teammates and I called for our story to be the last, but unfortunately, due to the lack of leadership from those pushing this anti-woman agenda, we have had to watch more girls suffer. Virginia needs people like Lt. Governor Sears and AG Miyares now more than ever. That debate made that fact quite evident.”
As the gubernatorial race intensifies, the debate over transgender participation in women’s sports has become emblematic of broader cultural and political divisions. For many, the outcome in Virginia could set a precedent for how other states navigate the fraught intersection of gender identity, women’s rights, and educational policy. One thing is certain: the voices on all sides are not backing down, and the nation is watching closely as Virginia’s voters prepare to make their choice.
