A group has petitioned the International Olympics Committee to revoke Caitlyn Jenner’s gold medal from the 1976 Olympics for violating the committee’s gender rules.
The initiative, started by a woman named Jennifer Bradford, went viral Wednesday and gained hundreds of supporters within an hour.
The group claims Jenner violated the committee’s gender rules by competing with men since she, according to herself, identified as a woman at the time of the event.
“This creates somewhat of a problem as Ms. Jenner (as talented as she is) claims that she has always believed herself to be truly female,” the letter to the IOC reads,” and therefore, was in violation of committee rules regarding women competing in men’s sports and vice versa. Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that we must ask whether or not it is proper that Ms. Jenner should retain her olympic records in light of this.”
The letter to the IOC congratulates Jenner for her courage to change genders and hopes she gives up the medal voluntarily.
”We urge Ms. Jenner to support the transgender community by giving up the medals earned by competing against the wrong gender.”
The petition also encourages people to use the hashtag #givebackthegold to show support for the cause, but the hashtag has primarily been used by people condemning the petition and its supporters.