Donna Rose lives with heart

Robby Davis shares his experience seeing Donna Rose compete in Cleveland.

This past weekend in Cleveland I became a devoted wrestling fan and watched one of my heros execute a takedown and pin in a mere 1:15 seconds, in her first return to the mat. This was Donna Rose's first participation in a women-only division in major national wrestling competition, and her first match since winning a gold medal in the 2006 Chicago Gay Games (where she only had the opportunity to wrestle men in her weight class.) After her victory, she was beaming, as was I and all her friends that had gathered on this wet Friday in a massive arena that will be a host venue for Gay Games IX in 2014.
Simply put, this was about "participation, inclusion and personal best" in the most profound sense. Donna said, “it’s about living, getting in there and doing it!” She went on to lose some matches, even getting pinned once, but she held her own skilled ground against some of the fiercest woman in the USA, including a ranking national champion.

She chose this mainstream stage for her first warm-up competition prior to Cologne this summer, as the first-ever transgender woman and very likely the oldest wrestler in the meet, to step up. She grappled with woman less than half her age, younger than her own grown son!

Donna placed 6th in the women's 72-kilogram (158.75 pounds,) qualifying for the World Championship trials later this year in Iowa, where she could qualify to represent the USA. Instead of causing potential controversy and a media frenzy over the two days, she won the respect of her competitors as an athlete that was skilled and well prepared. Donna’s integrity, willpower and skill did the talking.

I met Donna Rose in Washington DC at the height of the battle over inclusion of transgender persons in the then-struggling Employees Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) legislation; where most of our national leaders were willing to compromise, she resigned from several Boards over their inability to stand for us all. Now as that legislation seems poised to pass with the protections for gender identity restored, she continues to remain highly visible, bold and as passionate as ever.

Enjoying the intense camaraderie in her favorite sport, Donna embodies our principles and is excited to be getting ready for the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne this summe, competing with the San Diego Bulldogs.



Visit Donna's website HERE.