Chloe Cole, the detransitioner who has become one of the most prominent critics of pediatric gender medicine, announced Tuesday that she was postponing a scheduled speech at the University of Washington after alleged threats made the event too dangerous to proceed.

Cole had been set to appear at UW’s Kane Hall as part of Turning Point USA’s “Pick Up the Mic” initiative. In a video posted to social media, she stated that Antifa had assembled what she called a local militia to shut down the event and that explicit threats against her life had pushed the security situation beyond what organizers and local law enforcement were prepared to manage.

The University of Washington clarified that it was TPUSA’s national organization, not the university, that made the decision to cancel the event. UW confirmed it had been actively planning security for the gathering. Cole emphasized that the threats reached a level where organizers and police could no longer responsibly manage the situation.

Cole, who underwent hormone treatments and a double mastectomy by age 15 before detransitioning, has spoken on campuses nationwide about the dangers of rushing minors into irreversible medical procedures. Her story is rooted in lived experience, which she said directly challenges the gender ideology activists seek to protect from scrutiny.

The campus context was complicated by recent tragedy: a transgender UW student had been murdered near Seattle, an incident TPUSA’s local chapter condemned as “horrific and senseless.” The group stated that violent threats targeting its chapter appeared designed to falsely link the conservative speaking event to the murder, weaponizing grief to shut down speech it deemed unrelated.

Cole acknowledged the assassination of Charlie Kirk during a prior campus event influenced her assessment of the threat level but maintained the event’s postponement was necessary due to security concerns exceeding what authorities could reasonably address. She reiterated plans to return to UW and other campuses, framing the delay as a snapshot of emerging campus realities where personal stories face hostile pressure campaigns.

Cole’s statement emphasized that detransitioners are targeted precisely because their experiences challenge the gender ideology activists defend. Her refusal to concede the larger conflict underscores her position: while this specific event was unsafe, she remains committed to speaking on campuses and advocating for those who regret medical interventions during childhood.