Rallies in support of WNBA player Sophie Cunningham are scheduled to take place outside arenas in Portland, Oregon, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Cunningham, a guard for the Indiana Fever, has spoken out in defense of women’s sports, stating that girls should not have to compete against biological males or share locker rooms with them.
Background
The rallies come after a chaotic night in Seattle, where Cunningham’s position on transgender athletes in women’s sports became a national flashpoint. Supporters gathered outside the Climate Pledge Arena before a game between the Fever and the Seattle Storm, thanking Cunningham for her stance. However, counterprotesters also assembled, and the atmosphere turned tense when some of the Cunningham supporters entered the game.
Two 16-year-old girls wearing shirts produced by XX-XY Athletics, a company that markets itself as an athletic brand committed to preserving female sports and spaces, were allegedly approached by Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton. Keaton reportedly cursed at them and called them ‘f—ing insane,’ and also invoked religion, telling them that she hoped Jesus could forgive them for their alleged sin. One of the girls was left sobbing at halftime.
Reaction
The incident generated a swift response from the Storm and the league. The Storm apologized for Keaton’s behavior, and the WNBA fined her an undisclosed amount and barred her from attending the Storm’s next five home games. Cunningham also responded to the girls’ account, promising to send them gifts and stating that she believes there is a safe space and love for everybody, including biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men.
The rallies in Portland and Minneapolis are expected to draw supporters of Cunningham and her stance on women’s sports. The events are being led by Washington-based activist Amy Sousa and XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey, respectively. Sousa said that organizers expect a stronger counterprotest in Portland than the one they encountered in Seattle.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
