University of Utah staff cancel class and host 'healing circles' over detransitioner Chloe Cole making a speech

On Thursday, some teachers at the University of Utah canceled classes while the LGBTQ Resource Center held a "Healing Circle" ahead of 19-year-old detransitioner Chloe Cole's speech hosted by the Young Americans Foundation (YAF). 

In an email to students obtained by YAF, one professor wrote, "This week, our campus is hosting a presentation by a prominent anti-trans activist."

"We are expecting significant protest this week around the event, starting as early as tomorrow due to transphobic events planned for Tuesday and Thursday of this week," they said. "I wanted to make sure no one feels pressured to come to campus this week due to one of our class meetings, especially if you do not feel safe." 

The organization noted that another professor who identifies as "non-binary" held remote classes and allowed students to opt out if they wanted to go protest the teen's speech. 

According to the Daily Utah Chronicle, the venue had about 60 security guards and police officers to monitor the protest hosted by Utah Students for a Democratic Society. 

During the event, Cole spoke about how her "experience going through transitioning back has been an incredibly painful one." She said, "But it’s also been a valuable learning experience for me.”

"We must keep fighting to rid the country of this practice of manipulating, utilizing, mutilating, and sterilizing children,” Cole added. “We must address how to otherwise care for these kids who are struggling with pain and trauma.”

Just last month, a screening of a documentary called "Damaged: The Transing Of America's Kids" by the Daily Caller, which featured Cole, was canceled after security shut it down to remove protestors from the building. 

Cole was placed on puberty blockers and then testosterone at the age of 13. She later had a double mastectomy at 15, then detransitioned at 16 years old. She is now an outspoken advocate against sex changes for minors, who have testified to her experience before Congress. 

She says that gender ideology "really captures the vulnerable children." Cole is currently suing her medical provider who she says coerced her into undergoing a gender transition.