Seattle Times Columnist Resigns Over Scrapped Trans Athlete Column

Calkins told Fox News Digital that his editors initially delayed publication and then decided against running the piece, offering the explanation that he had not informed them of the topic in advance. He expressed disbelief at this excuse, stating his desire to amplify the voices of girls who compete against biological males, asserting that their perspectives are often marginalized in media coverage.

He also indicated that this was not an isolated incident, suggesting that his columns that went against the prevailing narrative were frequently "spiked." Calkins acknowledged the pressures editors face with divisive topics but felt that concerns about public backlash increasingly limited his ability to explore certain opinions.

The controversy Calkins addressed in his column was linked to a rally supporting Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who has publicly voiced opposition to transgender women participating in women's sports. Calkins had interviewed a high school runner, Ahnaleigh Wilson, who had competed against a transgender athlete, and a basketball player, Frances Staudt, who had declined to play in a game involving a transgender opponent. The situation was further complicated by an alleged confrontation involving Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton at a game, for which the Storm later apologized and Keaton was fined and suspended by the WNBA.