Olympic ice skating champion Alysa Liu's teenage trans sibling outed by far-right media

This story originally appeared on Them.

Conservatives have identified their latest target for transphobic vitriol amid their ongoing attacks on transgender participation in women’s sports: beloved Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu’s teenage sibling.

The anti-trans news site Reduxx identified and allegedly outed Liu’s 16-year-old sister, who we will not name here, as transgender in an article titled, “Olympic Figure Skater’s Brother Quietly Racking Up Wins In Girls’ Sports,” per LGBTQ Nation. (The headline notably misgenders Liu’s sibling.)

The Reduxx article claims that Liu competes on several women’s sports teams at her high school, proceeding to misgender her and share a name for her that had not yet reached broader public knowledge. Despite claiming to be a “pro-woman, pro-child” website, Reduxx went on to share more sensitive information about a minor, including the name of her high school, her ostensible sports records (including locations she previously played), and even photos of her, while blurring other presumed children in the frame.

Though the Olympian’s sister appears to have public social media profiles, it is worth noting that there is a difference between a trans teen being out to her local community and a conservative outlet broadcasting her name, image, and location to the entire internet.

The article also goes on to cite Marshi Smith, co-founder of anti-trans organization Independent Council on Women’s Sports, who tells Reduxx, “The Liu family represents two opposing forces: the pinnacle of excellence in female sports and, at the same time, a profound threat to the integrity of those sports.”

Though gold medalist Alysa Liu has not directly addressed the report, she has frequently supported LGBTQ+ rights in the past, skating alongside openly queer members of Team U.S.A. like Amber Glenn (who says she received “scary” threats for advocating for queer and trans rights).

The recent attack on a literal teenager comes amid a flash point in the conservative right’s attack on trans-inclusion in sports. In July, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham openly shared transphobic sentiments in a profile with ESPN, including the right-wing dog whistle that she “want[s] to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sports who shouldn't have to go against biological men,” sparking weeks of continuing controversy and public discussion. As two-time Olympic gold medalist Megan Rapinoe wrote in a July op-ed for Marie Claire, the idea that trans exclusion protects girls in sports is false. It actually opens the door for more gender-based violence, she wrote, including proposed invasive, mandatory sex testing on young girls who want to play sports in states like Washington.

The fallout from Cunningham’s comments have culminated in more anti-trans protestors at WNBA games, though the rallies have been poorly attended thus far. Luckily, other WNBA players have spoken out in support for trans inclusion in sports. Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson wore a “TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS” tank top in her tunnel fit to a July 28 game against the Fever, and Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries power forward, said she would welcome a trans teammate “anytime” in a recent interview.

The recent uptick in discourse has raised concerns about whether the WNBA is ready to handle a conservative-backed attempt to make the league the latest battleground in the anti-trans culture war around sports.

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