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Seattle Times Columnist Resigns After Paper Rejects Op-Ed

8/21/2026

43 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Calkins Resigns

Matt Calkins resigned from The Seattle Times after the paper rejected his column.
The column featured 16-year-old Ahnaleigh Wilson and Tumwater High player Frances Staudt.
Both subjects said they supported WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham and were not anti-trans.
Calkins announced his resignation on X and Substack, receiving praise and an offer from Clay Travis.

Summary

WNBA Examines

The WNBA announced a task force to examine transgender athletes’ participation, reported Aug. 8.
Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom declared himself a 2027 WNBA prospect on Aug. 8, intensifying the debate.
The task force proposal followed a recent Supreme Court ruling affecting transgender rights in sports.
At a rally, 16-year-old Ahnaleigh Wilson said a transgender athlete beat her in a track race.

History

Historical Context

On June 15 2020 the Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII bans employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Nebraska’s legislature affirmed the ruling with a 28-8 vote in August 2020, and HUD issued related fair-housing guidance in February 2021. Today the WNBA, NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom and the Seattle Times confront policy and speech issues that stem from Bostock’s legal shift.

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Calkins Resigns

Matt Calkins resigned from The Seattle Times after the paper rejected his column.
The column featured 16-year-old Ahnaleigh Wilson and Tumwater High player Frances Staudt.
Both subjects said they supported WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham and were not anti-trans.
Calkins announced his resignation on X and Substack, receiving praise and an offer from Clay Travis.

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