A confrontation unfolded outside a women’s sports bar in Portland on Friday, centered on the topic of men participating in women’s sports. Police intervened to de-escalate the situation.
This clash took place near The Sports Bra, a venue exclusively showcasing women’s sports, on September 11. Approximately seven protesters gathered nearby around 5:40 p.m. to voice their objections to the establishment, while over 30 counterprotesters showed up in support, as reported by KPTV. Participants from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization joined the larger group to advocate for transgender rights and LGBTQ+ representation.
The groups exchanged chants along the street before the situation shifted to a nearby parking lot. Conservative livestreamer Thomas Allen was on-site, recording the encounter, according to the Daily Tidings.
Activists advocating for transgender rights accused Allen and his group of using a chemical irritant against several individuals and reportedly entering a grocery store while armed, as per KPTV.
Portland police arrived around 5:45 p.m., directing protesters away from traffic and monitoring the scene until the crowd dispersed. While two complaints about the irritant were filed, no arrests were made due to a lack of sufficient evidence, and no injuries were reported. Activists criticized the police response, demanding accountability for what they felt was a lack of action during the altercations.
The conflict had its roots in a previous incident at the same bar, where five patrons were asked to leave after complaints about their attire. One staff member warned them that failure to comply would lead to police involvement. These patrons were wearing clothing from XX-XY Athletics, which supports sex-based categories in competitions. Notably, this group had also been removed from a match of the Portland Thorns a few days prior.
The ownership of the bar defended its stance following the protest, stating that while public expression of opinions is allowed, behavior that demeans or excludes others would not be tolerated within its premises, as reported by KPTV.
