Don’t eject the anti-trans XX-XY crowd. Ask them to explain themselves.

Last weekend, the Sports Transphobapaloooza Tour hit Portland and the Portland Thorns of the NWSL.

A small group of fans, organized around a decently followed anti-trans social media personality, attended the NWSL match between the Washington Spirit and the Portland Thorns last Sunday wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts.

According to club officials, the group were removed from Providence Park for “distributing unapproved materials, which violates the stadium’s Fan Experience Guidelines.”

The social media maven Amy Souza countered that her group was thrown out for simply wearing the t-shirts backing up the the brand’s major contention of “Protect Women’s Sports.”

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A similar scene played out when the group later went to the Sports Bra, the pioneering all-women’s sports all-the-time watering hole that spawned a growing trend nationwide.

It seems that they rankled a lot of patrons in what is considered a pro-woman, pro-sports, pro-LGBTQ space. Staff asked them to either cover the anti-trans messaging on their shirts or leave.

They left yowling with the camera phones rolling.

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The Sports Bra put out a statement explaining their decision.

“A group entered wearing apparel with messages advocating for the exclusion of trans women from sports,” the Instagram statement noted. “When our team respectfully gave the group the choice to cover the anti-trans messaging or leave, they chose to leave.”

“Since day one, we’ve built our space to be inclusive, especially for people who don’t feel comfortable at a traditional sports bar. That includes LGBTQ+ community members.

“As a reminder, the T stands for trans. We welcome people of every identity and background, but we do not tolerate messages or conduct that demean or exclude the very community we exist to serve and celebrate.”

This trans athlete wants to engage, not eject, the XX-XY crew

I’m certainly no fan of XX-XY Athletics. Their founder called NWSL superstar Barbra Banda, a Black woman from Zambia who is one of the best players in the world, a “man” last year.

Their brand targeted high school and middle school kids for clicks.

I look at anyone who supports their brand with a serious side eye, but there is a place where I disagree with the instinct to simply kick people out.

If you have a person heckling players or engaging in aggression against other fans or patrons, by all means let security or a maitre’d handle it.

But if somebody is just sitting in the stands watching the game in peace or just hanging out at the sports bar and wearing the T-shirt?

Let’s consider an alternative.

I’d sit to next them at the Sports Bra. All about my sports, maybe rocking a Nebraska volleyball jersey, nibbling a well done burger, sipping a tangy cabernet.

They want a scene? I prefer scrutiny with a laser focus.

“Hey there, that’s an interesting T-shirt,” I might say during a commercial break. “What exactly is XX-XY’s engagement with women’s sports beyond keeping transgender women out of the game?”

That would be the start.

What exactly do they build for girl’s and women’s sports?

What do they fund?

Are they helping cash-strapped youth leagues get equipment?

Are they rebuilding fields?

Are they expanding opportunities for women athletes that have nothing to do with transgender people?

I’d also mention something Sey, Sophie Cunningham and certain spoilsport swimmer are keeping mum about.

“I hear a lot about how that group on your t-shirt wants to ‘protect Title IX’,” I’d ask calmly. “What are your views on the Heritage Foundation’s recent report that attacks Title IX and how XX-XY was silent about it?“

Those questions are the ones that need to be asked to those tossing around “save women’s sports” and “protect Title IX” like manhole covers. Make them explain their contentions and show their work.

While they come after me and mine just for wanting to play, they are also trying to sell the same old chauvinism of the past that existed long before the current anti-trans fear-mongering. The old arguments asking if women’s sports deserves equal investment, equal seriousness, equal facilities, equal opportunity and equal respect.

Certain types want to take women’s sports back there even if its as out of style as Bobby Riggs’ Sugar Daddy warmup fit.

At the same time, I’m not here to tell XX-XY Athletics what its mission should be.

If their answer is: “Karleigh, we’re just about keeping you all those other trans women out of women’s sports!”

My response? Cool. Put it on the box.

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Stop trying to sell it as “save women’s sports” when its focus is largely on anti-trans grievance.

I’m of the belief that most people are not for making kids feel unwelcome, demeaning athletes, or watching two former NBA players trying to clown the best women’s basketball talent in the world for engagement.

If exclusion is your product, be honest about it and let the market decide.

And that includes the market of public opinion. The views of XX-XY support should be exposed to with a critical eye, instead of allowing them use ejection as a passion play.

They want the scene. I prefer scrutiny.

They want chaos. Let’s give them questions.

Ask them XX-XWhy, then listen carefully to the answer.

I’m here for the dialogue.

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