Official Statement: Protesting USRowing RowFest

Since 2022, Steady State Network has raced as Allies with Oars to promote inclusion and accessibility for rowers of all gender identities. We do this by pulling together competitive lineups for major regattas and in the past this has included USRowing RowFest.

But this year, the majority of Allies with Oars Ambassadors (30 in total, representing clubs across the United States and in New Zealand) have chosen not to participate in RowFest because of USRowing’s 2026 Competition Categories that inherently are an anti-transgender policy.

As of Jan. 1, 2026, when USRowing announced its competition categories, it made clear that trans and gender non-conforming athletes were not welcome to row based upon their identities.

In a sport where the national governing body supports a United We Row DEI campaign to attempt an equitable environment for coaches, athletes, and officials, Allies with Oars believes it falls short of this mark.

Despite organizing Allies With Oars boats for USRowing-sanctioned regattas in the past in order to increase visibility of our trans and non-binary teammates, Allies Ambassadors feel strongly opposed to participating this year because they do not wish to consciously financially support USRowing for such a large event.

Until USRowing unifies their United We Row campaign with a gender policy that allows all athletes to compete equitably, Allies with Oars will not participate in RowFest.

Every rower counts. Find out more at steadystatenetwork.com/allieswithoars