Chloe Cole, a “de-transitioner” and activist who advocates against gender-affirming care for minors, spoke in association with Turning Point USA at the Fresno State free-speech area on Tuesday at 12 p.m.
When Cole was 12 years old, she began transitioning from female to male with gender-affirming care, which included hormone therapy and receiving a double mastectomy. Six years later, Cole regretted this decision and, soon after, began sharing her experience with the public.
“I have a lot of passion for these individuals [transgender individuals], and I think that in order to move forward in this discussion… we have to have these difficult open discussions,” Cole said in an interview with The Collegian.
In reaction to Cole’s presence on campus, approximately 30 counter-protesters gathered at the event, in support of the transgender community and the LGBTQ+ community.
As Cole sat behind a table under a tent, attendees had the opportunity to go up to a microphone in front of the booth and ask her questions.
Lauren Lochner, a history major at Fresno State, was among the counter-protesters at the event. She spoke about her personal objective in attending.
“I’m here to just kind of spread the word and let people know [that], ‘hey, you should do your own research before we fully support something, even on both sides,’” Lochner said. “I’m very happy that we are able to collectively organize like this.”
The counter-protesters waved flags, held signs reading statements like “trans people are everywhere,” and chanted through megaphones.
Attendee Tommie Jones, a pre-psychology major at Fresno State, spoke with Cole about the definition of gender and the meaning of biological sex.
In an interview with The Collegian, Jones discussed her experience at the event.
“I found it very interesting,” Jones said. “She, you know, is of course a great speaker, I found her story really valuable – I don’t agree with her points, but I do think it’s an important story to hear.”
Though Jones chose not to be involved with the counter-protesters, she explained that she can stand by their perspective.
“I didn’t agree with all of their tactics, but I understand why they’re so angry,” Jones said. “This rhetoric is harmful for trans kids. There are kids who are going to see this and think that they can’t medically transition.”
Fresno State Turning Point President Gabby Thomas discussed why she wanted to bring Cole onto campus.
“We just feel like it’s important that de-transitioners also have stories and they’re able to talk and communicate with other people as well,” Thomas said. “Just bringing that other perspective in and just being peaceful about it is what our main goal is.”
The event officially lasted from 12-1 p.m., but Cole continued to converse with attendees for approximately one hour afterward.
Evan Trevino, the vice president of Turning Point USA at Fresno State, discussed the successful turnout and discourse of the event.
“I think conversations like this is important, and we get too far away from them in our echo chambers and allow [the] shutting down of opposite conversation,” Trevino said.
Trevino and a few other members from Turning Point USA expressed hope for future members coming to campus, including Charlie Kirk and Brandon Tatum.
“I do not want that to happen,” Lochner said. “If you thought this was bad, it’s going to get even worse if he’s [Kirk] here.”
Despite the polarizing nature of the discussion, Trevino admired Fresno State’s ability to foster difficult conversations.
