Portland Thorns remove fans wearing XX-XY apparel, bar also asks them to leave

Portland Thorns officials said a group of spectators was removed from Providence Park during the September 6 match against the Washington Spirit for distributing unapproved materials, which breaches the stadium’s Fan Experience Guidelines. The fans, who had posted on social media about wearing apparel from XX-XY Athletics—a brand that promotes sports segregation by sex—were told by a stadium employee that a complaint had been made about “transphobic” behavior.

Group member Amy Sousa, who posted photos of the clothing, said the logo was covered with a scarf for most of the game and that she was unaware of any wrongdoing. She recorded a video in which a staff member mentioned being alerted to “transphobic” conduct and the distribution of information, though the specific allegation was not audible.

"We've done nothing transphobic. We literally brought the code of conduct with us and have followed it to the letter," Sousa said.

After the match, the same group visited The Sports Bra, a women’s sports bar, where staff also asked them to leave. The bar’s staff cited discomfort among other patrons caused by the shirts.

"At first, they would not give us a reason. They said our shirts were making someone feel unsafe," Sousa reported.

The Sports Bra later posted on Instagram that it supports and empowers girls and women in sports and affirmed that trans girls are girls and trans women are women.

The incidents occur amid ongoing national debates over the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports. The NWSL fan code of conduct prohibits discriminatory language, symbols, or actions based on gender identity, among other protected categories. The Thorns lost the match 2-1 after Trinity Rodman scored a late winner for Washington.