Some could hear it all the way from Varner Hall, others from South Foundation Hall; around 50 students, faculty and alumni rallied at the foot of Elliott Tower in support of trans rights, and against hate speech in response to Chloe Cole’s visit to OU.
“We’re out here protesting because we have an organization on campus that is portraying a detransitioner who is spouting lies about transgender individuals and about what gender identity is,” Sierra, an OU student said. “We just have to be out here, we have to, you know, let people know that this won’t be tolerated on our campus.”
On March 18, Sierra wasn’t wearing a mask like many of her peers protesting, however, she wished her last name would be kept confidential — both acts of precaution in an age of increased tensions at college protests.
“There were a lot of people coming from both sides of the issue, those who may not have stories like mine and those that agree,” Chloe Cole said. “What I really appreciated was that there are people who I disagree with, who were able to come up and ask very fair questions and be able to be on common ground with me, and that’s something that I think is exactly needed, especially on college campuses where open discussions should be facilitated.”
OU’s chapter of Turning Point USA was aware of the demonstration, as flyers were distributed throughout campus and on social media by the Young Democratic Socialists of OU (YDSA). Around six OUPD officers watched over the juxtaposing demonstration outside and the presentation inside the Oakland Center. The atmosphere was tense.
“Chloe seems to be coming from a genuine place. I don’t think that she intends hate or harm, but I think what she advocates for does lead to much more harm than it does good,” Mario Prisciandaro, an OU student, said. “I attended the event partially out of curiosity, and I wanted to see what the reaction was from the public.”
Between chants and picket signs, protester’s reactions ranged from outrage to disappointment, from solidarity to fear.
“I’m just disappointed that OU has allowed an event like this to happen, I feel like it’s pretty clear that it’s openly transphobic,” Cupid, an OU student, said. “As a trans person, that’s really upsetting, especially since when I enrolled at OU, in the fall 2022 semester — as far as my research goes — it was the second safest campus in the state for queer people.”
While the large majority of protesters refrained from hearing Cole’s presentation, even after an invitation from the president of OU’s chapter of Turning Point USA, Malachi Cattanach, some of the protest organizers engaged in conversation with Cole during a Q&A session.
“As one of the leaders of the protest, I thought that it was only fair that I go in and speak to her directly,” Ethan, an OU student, said. “I am proud that she has figured out who she is, because most people are not able to do that, but that doesn’t give her the right to put everyone else down in the process. So I wanted to make sure that I went in to speak with her to express that.”
Protesters went from Elliott Tower to the lobby area before the Founders Ballroom where Cole presented. Chants didn’t cease to resonate inside the OC. It was only after the speaker left around 9 p.m. that the protest dissipated with applause.
“We’ve had controversial events in the building before, like Ash Wednesday — we had a whole church service in the event at one point in time — but this goes beyond something that’s inclusive,” a former OC staff member and alumni who wished to remain anonymous said. “I just honestly would like to ask, is this what we stand for?”
At least a portion of OU and the larger Oakland community stood for trans rights, rallying against what they characterize as hate speech — a controversial topic with legislative stakes.
“Queer people, Queer is an act of resistance, it is a proud history. Stonewall was a riot,” Ethan said. “Queerness is to deviate from the norm, to change things, and that is exactly what we are doing. We will not let the status quo — of pleasantly allowing the enemy to speak — to continue.”
