April 18, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Social conservatives seeking to draw attention to the horrific abuses committed under China’s one-child policy have found an unexpected ally in Cori Schumacher.
Schumacher, the reigning Women’s World Longboard Surfing Champion and an icon in the surfing world, is also known as a prominent advocate for gay “marriage” who “married” her partner in 2008. But she has no patience for the treatment of women under China’s oppressive communist regime and its one child policy, and is willing to stand behind her convictions.
The surfing champ was faced with a difficult decision earlier this year when it was announced that the prestigious 2011 World Tour would be held in Hainan, China.
“I felt like I had two choices: I could go with my reservations and wear a ‘Free Tibet’ shirt, or something trite like that. Or, I could stand up for what I believe in and hopefully call more attention to these issues through a boycott,” she told the Del Mar Times.
Ultimately Schumacher decided on the latter, more drastic, and more painful route.
In a letter to the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), Schumacher said, “I have deep political and personal reservations with being a part of any sort of benefit to a country that actively engages in human rights violations, specifically those in violation of women.”
Schumacher pointed out that the decision to host the 2011 World Tour in China, “followed an important US congressional hearing on China’s ‘One Child Policy,’ a policy sanctioned by the Chinese government that is implicated in gendercide, sexual slavery, forced sterilization and forced abortions.”
ASP CEO Brodie Carr responded with a statement urging Schumacher to participate, saying, “I believe you can do so much more good by going there and inspiring the people of this country than by protesting.”
Schumacher, however, was unconvinced, and is sticking by her guns.
Women’s Rights Without Frontiers (WRWF), a human rights group that focuses on China, applauded Schumacher for her decision, calling her a woman of “tremendous courage, conviction and backbone – a shining light not only to female athletes, but to all women who are struggling for basic human dignity, all over the world.”
“You embody the highest ideals of athleticism – not only outstanding achievement in your sport, but also a consummate moral vision that finds expression in courageous and self-sacrificing action. We salute you.”
The human rights organization also had words for the ASP, pointing out that the one-child policy “causes more violence towards women and girls than any other official policy on earth and any other official policy in the history of the world.”
“Why are you dignifying this brutality by holding your tournament in China? … do the right thing: move your tournament to the shores of a land whose waves are not awash in the blood of women,” said WRWF.