Women Booted from Women's Bar for Wearing Shirts in Support of Women

Todd Starnes : Sep 8, 2026
ToddStarnes.com

"None of these guests even interacted with other customers. They just wanted to watch the Thorns game."

(Portland, OR) — [ToddStarnes.com] A group of women was booted from a popular women's sports bar after other patrons complained that their pro-women apparel made them "uncomfortable." (Screengrab image: via KATU 2 video)

The controversy erupted Sunday at The Sports Bra, a Portland establishment dedicated exclusively to showing women's sports.

Video recorded by women's rights activist Amy Sousa shows an employee ordering the group to leave.

"There are people that are in here that are uncomfortable with those shirts, and so I'm asking y'all to leave," the employee said.

"If I have to call authorities to get y'all removed, I will, but I don't want to do that."

The women protested.

"There's nothing wrong with these shirts," someone in the group responded.

Storyful reported that five patrons were removed from the establishment, including a man who was reportedly wearing a plain shirt with no message.

The shirts were made by XX-XY Athletics, a company founded by Jennifer Sey that advocates for maintaining separate female sports categories.

Sey blasted the establishment after video of the confrontation went viral.

"The Sports Bra kicks people out if they wear @xx_xyathletics tees. What's up @TheSportsBraPDX?" Sey wrote.

"None of these guests even interacted with other customers. They just wanted to watch the Thorns game."

The Sports Bra subsequently defended its actions in a lengthy Facebook message, saying its mission is to support all women and girls —including transgender athletes.

"At The Sports Bra, our mission is simple: support, promote, and empower ALL girls and women in sports. To be clear: trans girls are girls, and trans women are women," the owners wrote.

"Since day one, we've built our space to be inclusive, especially for people who don't feel comfortable at a traditional sports bar. That includes LGBTQ+ community members. As a reminder, the T stands for trans."

The owners said customers of "every identity and background" are welcome, but added: "We do not tolerate messages or conduct that demean or exclude the very community we exist to serve and celebrate."

The bar owners said the group was given an ultimatum.

"On Sunday, Sept. 6, a group entered wearing apparel with messages advocating for the exclusion of trans women from sports. When our team respectfully gave the group the choice to cover the anti-trans messaging or leave, they chose to leave."

The Sports Bra owners said they had every right to order the women to leave in the name of inclusivity.

"Since day one, we've built our space to be inclusive, especially for people who don't feel comfortable at a traditional sports bar. That includes LGBTQ+ community members. As a reminder, the T stands for trans," they wrote. "We welcome people of every identity and background, but we do not tolerate messages or conduct that demean or exclude the very community we exist to serve and celebrate."

"We stand firmly committed to inclusion and belonging for everyone who walks through our doors," the owners concluded. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here