A group wearing “XX-XY” and “Save Women’s Sports” apparel was removed from a Portland Thorns match Sunday, setting off another round of outrage in the increasingly manufactured culture war surrounding transgender participation in women’s sports.
The incident occurred Sept. 6 at Providence Park during the Thorns’ NWSL match against the Washington Spirit. According to reports, Amy Sousa organized the outing through social media and invited people to attend wearing clothing from XX-XY Athletics, a company that campaigns for sports categories based on biological sex.
Eight members of the group were ultimately removed from the stadium.
Exactly why they were removed has become the center of the dispute.
Sousa and others portrayed the ejection as punishment for their clothing and views about transgender athletes. Video circulated by the group reportedly includes references to complaints that their messaging was transphobic.
The Portland Thorns, however, offered a different explanation.
A team spokesperson said the individuals were removed for “distributing unapproved materials,” which violates Providence Park’s Fan Experience Guidelines. The organization said its priority is maintaining a safe, inclusive and respectful environment and indicated the incident remains under investigation.
Members of the group dispute that account, with Sousa denying that they distributed materials inside the stadium. (Fox News)
The confrontation didn’t end when they left Providence Park.
Several members later went to The Sports Bra, a Portland bar centered on women’s sports. According to KOIN reporting, five people were asked to leave after other customers complained that the group’s shirts made them uncomfortable. Video posted by Sousa shows a staff member telling the group that patrons had complained and asking them to leave.
The Sports Bra subsequently reaffirmed its support for transgender women participating in sports.
The episode arrives as anti-trans activists increasingly use women’s sporting events as venues for political messaging about transgender athletes. Shirts featuring chromosomes, “Save Women’s Sports” slogans and similar messaging have appeared at other professional sporting events this year.
The symbolism is difficult to miss. Transgender athletes do not need to actually be competing for transgender people to become the subject of the event.
Sunday’s Thorns match was between two professional women’s soccer teams. The Washington Spirit defeated Portland 2-1. Yet once again, a sporting event with no reported controversy involving a transgender player became another stage for the national argument over transgender women.
At this point, the culture war apparently doesn’t even require a trans athlete.
Just a T-shirt and an audience.
