Abbigail Wheeler

Homeschool, Illinois

Abbigail Wheeler is a homeschool student from Springfield, Illinois, and a passionate advocate for the privacy and safety of women and girls in spaces meant exclusively for them. Her journey began at her local YMCA, where she and her teammates encountered men in the women’s locker room. Despite voicing her discomfort to her coach and the YMCA staff, her concerns were dismissed, making her feel invalidated and silenced. When Abbigail and a teammate tried to raise awareness, they faced accusations of hate speech and were subsequently removed from their swim team and banned from the YMCA.

Abbigail’s advocacy focuses on protecting the privacy and safety of women and girls, particularly in locker rooms and sports. She speaks out against the erasure of women and is determined to inspire others to stand up for their rights to safe, secure spaces.

Learn more about booking a speaking event or interview with me or any of these Riley Gaines Center Ambassadors.