Content Warning: This story includes descriptions of transphobic statements and violence against a trans athlete. Please read with care.
Hundreds of supporters wearing Pride shirts and holding signs in support of Vancouver Island University (VIU) basketball forward Harriette Mackenzie filled the stands during her first home game since speaking out about being targeted at a previous game on Oct 25.
Carol Rosher from the LGBTQ+ events group The Queer Agenda put out the call for locals to show up to the game to support Mackenzie.
“It’s important, now more than ever, for vocal advocates to come forward in whatever space and capacity that they are able to do so and support all of the people of the community,” Rosher told The Discourse.
In an emotional video posted to her personal Instagram account on Oct. 30, Mackenzie described how the head coach of the opposing Columbia Bible College Bearcats, Taylor Clagett, “cornered one of our athletic staff and went on a tirade about how I shouldn’t be allowed to play.”
In the video, Mackenzie displayed screenshots of comments posted during the game by Clagett’s brother and business partner Kyle that read: “Keep women’s sports, WOMEN’s SPORTS! Complete joke” and “You have girls that have dreams to play post-secondary basketball and when they end up making it they have to play against a male! Unreal”
Mackenzie said she was also deliberately fouled by Bearcat players during the team’s second game the following afternoon.
“I got two-hand chucked to the ground by No. 13 without a play on the ball in sight, then head coach Clagett can be seen applauding in support.”
Later in the video, Mackenzie said that, in the past, she dealt with similar situations by “keeping my head down and hoping they blow over, saying nothing, not wanting to draw attention to myself.”
However, she felt compelled to speak up this time because she was “done staying silent while harmful narratives make today’s queer youth feel as though they don’t belong in sport. Done pretending like I have anything to be ashamed of.”
After Mackenzie published her video, Clagett posted a statement to social media that said the video was inaccurate and attacked her character. “My intention has nothing to do with a specific athlete, but instead, the safety of female athletes in their sport,” she wrote.
Columbia Bible College (CBC) told the Vancouver Sun the “scripted video does not accurately represent all the events that took place.”
The statement also says that Claggett and CBC Bearcat players have faced “false comment and online harassment” that have “created an unsafe environment for our players and employees.”
After posting the video, Mackenzie received support from queer and trans people and allies from across Canada, including Alberta MLA Janis Irwin who wrote: “Thank you for this, Harriette. I can’t imagine how much courage this took. We see you and we stand with you.”
Soon, local queer organizations started to mobilize support for Mackenzie at the upcoming home game against New Westminster’s Douglas College.
Shaun Baty from the group Oceanside Queers also helped organize people to attend the game.
“We knew coming in here what we were going to be able to accomplish, because we know our people and our community needs our support. And this isn’t just about one player. This is about everybody,” they said.
Pavlova Webb attended the game with a crew of friends from The Coast is Queer to show that trans women have a place in women’s sports.
“The atmosphere was fun and positive,” she said. “I was really happy to see no negativity at the game. They played really well and both teams were really talented.”
Emily Mantooth also attended the game.
“We’re just here in support of Harriette. Just to show her that if you attack one person in our community, we rally and love-bomb, show up to support and spread the love,” she said.
Mackenzie’s mother Megan Cunningham, as well as family friends from her hometown of Comox, drove down to Nanaimo to show their support.
“It was great to see all the support for Harriette and her team,” she told The Discourse in an email. “It was especially impactful seeing all the youth in attendance to witness firsthand the clear message (that) all athletes deserve the freedom to be their authentic selves, and to play in a safe and supportive environment — including queer and trans athletes.”
All of the athletes and athletics staff declined to be interviewed for this story, a representative from VIU told The Discourse.
In an emailed statement the university said “the VIU Mariners are dedicated to supporting every member of our team. We fully comply with the regulations and guidelines set by the CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association) and PACWEST (Pacific Western Conference), following all standards outlined and approved by these governing organizations.”
PACWEST posted a statement to its website saying that “all student-athletes deserve an inclusive environment free of harassment where respect and personal dignity are guiding values. Intimidation or harassment of PACWEST student-athletes will not be tolerated.”
The statement also says that the organization follows the CCAA policy on trans athletes’ participation in sports.
The Mariners won the game against Douglas College 60-46 and currently rank sixth in Canada. Mackenzie is the league’s fifth-leading scorer with 90 points in six games. The Mariners play two away games at Camosun College tonight and tomorrow and have their next home game against Langara on Friday, Nov. 29.
