Tulane University’s chapter of Turning Point USA hosted a “Prove Me Wrong” event featuring conservative activist Chloe Cole. The event, held on April 21, was intended to provide a forum for debate on gender ideology, according to event advertisements.
Cole advocates against the medical practice of adolescents transitioning. She calls herself a “detransitioner,” who reports having gone through a traumatic gender transition at age 12, followed by a detransition at age 16. Cole now identifies as female.
TPUSA members held handwritten signs that read, “Trans kids don’t exist” and “Transgenderism is a mental illness and transitioning doesn’t help it.” They called out to students passing by on the Academic Quad, holding out a microphone and vying for heated interactions.
One TPUSA member made eye contact with me and screamed, “You look like you have something to say to me, why don’t you grab a mic?” They continued to press when I chose not to engage.
To the demonstration’s right, the Queer Student Alliance peacefully counterprotested in favor of queer and trans visibility.
Walking by this demonstration left a sour taste in my mouth — not only in response to the harmful language and engagement tactics deployed by TPUSA, but by the Tulane administration’s steadfast support and permission of this kind of speech.
Tulane spokesperson Michael Strecker said, “As was evident [on Tuesday], students are free to voice their opposition and counter-speech.”
While TPUSA’s speech, even if hateful, is protected under the First Amendment, Tulane needs to decide whether this is the kind of environment it wants to cultivate.
We need to proceed with caution when hate speech has the potential to bleed into harassment, which is defined by the U.S. Department of the Interior as “unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetic information.”
In an email message sent to the Tulane community on February 26 regarding the inauguration of the Center for Civil Discourse, President Michael Fitts wrote that academic excellence is fueled by debate.
“Improving the level of reasoned dialogue and debate on our campuses is vital to maintaining academic excellence, which is our core value,” Fitts said.
TPUSA’s signage denying trans identity seems misaligned with President Fitts’ promise for “reasoned dialogue” and “maintaining academic excellence.” I am disappointed that this kind of transphobic rhetoric was met with a lack of action from the university’s leadership.
The existence of TPUSA and conservative debate is one thing, but harassing students and denying the existence of the transgender community is another. It is Tulane’s responsibility to cultivate and maintain a campus environment void of hostility, where everyone feels safe, valued and included.
“Rage-baiting is not a sincere form of protest,” senior Kyra Schechter said. “TPUSA has made up their minds about what they think, and they were just there to fuel hate and get under people’s skin. It’s not even an effective way to spark debate.”
TPUSA’s strategy of public confrontation and provocative signage prioritized reactions over dialogue. Denying trans kids’ existence is not “reasoned dialogue.” It is hate speech.
As a private university, Tulane can redefine what kinds of speech and protest are protected on campus under federal and state regulations. TPUSA’s anti-trans demonstration raises serious concerns about whether Tulane’s policies adequately address conduct that can contribute to a hostile environment.
An opt-in forum would have been better aligned with the organization’s stated goals, rather than a busy quad where avoiding the event was not an option.
I urge the university leadership to consider how language like “trans kids don’t exist” or “transgenderism is a mental illness” impacts the emotional and physical safety of trans students, faculty, staff and prospective students on campus.