14-03-2025
People gather at GVSU to protest speaker who detransitioned
ALLENDALE, Mich. (WOOD) — A large crowd of protestors gathered at Grand Valley State University's campus Thursday afternoon.
Demonstrators protested a speaker brought to campus by a conservative student organization to share her story about detransitioning genders at a young age.
Turning Point USA's GVSU chapter invited Chloe Cole, a conservative figure, to host 'Exposing the Trans Agenda: A Talk With a Detransitioner' in the Kirkof Center on campus.
Protesters outside argued they feel the event promotes anti-transgender ideologies and harms the transgender community. Zack Telly, a senior at GVSU, told News 8 he protested to show his support for the transgender community.
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'It's dehumanizing, its hurtful to see. I hate seeing that it's here at Grand Valley because I have always thought of this as a really safe space and that hurts my feeling of safeness and I am not even a trans individual,' he said.
Zack's friend Alyssa Leineke, another senior at the university, joined the protest as well.
'I do feel that its harmful, this sort of narrative that she is sending to young people,' Leineke said.
It was a sentiment shared by their friend Ashlyn Jenkins.
'She was making everyone fearful in a way that that was blatantly transphobic,' she said.
TPUSA GVSU President Andreanna LaRue told News 8 that free speech is encouraged on campus and the group wants to bring different voices to the table.
'Our goal today, as is our mission for our chapter on this campus, is let's bridge that gap of conversation,' LaRue said.
News 8 was not allowed inside the event due to what the organization said was capacity issues, but did speak with Cole afterwards.
'I want to talk not only about my experiences but to invite everyone else to join the conversation,' Cole said. 'I think that everyone that is experiencing these feelings with their body and their sex have this trauma that is making them feel this way. They deserve grace, they deserve compassion. But I don't think that looks like lying to them about who they fundamentally are or that they can become somebody that they never will be.'
Cole said that she came to this event to invite others to be part of the discussion. She also responded directly to claims that she is against the trans community.
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'I have plenty of friends who identify as transgender and while I might personally disagree with their life choices, I love them the way that they are, and I still consider them my brothers and sisters,' she said.
News 8 reached out to the university for comment. They responded with the following statement:
'This speaker was invited by a student organization to speak on campus. As a public university, GVSU upholds the First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly without viewpoint-based restrictions. We recognize some may find this speaker objectionable and may choose to peacefully protest her message, which is also their right.
'GVSU will not restrict anyone's ability to use their voice in a lawful and non-disruptive manner that is in compliance with the Grounds and Facility Use Policy and all other applicable university policies.'
Grand Valley State University
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