Inside the Dispute Targeting a Transgender Michigan High School Volleyball Player
Updated: 5 days ago
The fall 2025 girls' high school volleyball season is clouded by a controversy between Monroe High School and Ann Arbor Skyline High School, resulting in a Title IX complaint by a Monroe parent
Posted January 9, 2025
Updated October 13, 2026
There are nearly 170,000 high school student-athletes in Michigan, but a Monroe family is determined to maintain a political focus on one of them.
A lengthy controversy involving a transgender high school volleyball player in Michigan shows how a regular athletic season can turn into a national debate that leaves taxpayer funds, jobs, and the privacy of minors in the balance. The issue begins with a September 9, 2025 girls varsity volleyball match between Monroe Public Schools and Ann Arbor Skyline, the latter of which had a transgender player on their roster.
For over 14 months, advocacy efforts, partisan media coverage, and political statements have placed a minor student at the center of a highly charged debate over gender, sports, and civil rights law - with no signs of slowing down.
This regularly updated analysis highlights how the escalation occurred, what policies govern these situations in Michigan, and why the focus on a small number of students risks undermining Title IX's original purpose of protecting access to education and addressing genuine harassment and abuse.
Quick Review: The Policy Backdrop in Michigan
Michigan has the eighth-highest level of student-athlete participation in the nation, with over 170,000 high school-aged competitors. The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) reports receiving between zero and two waiver requests for transgender girls to compete on girls' teams across all sports and seasons.
Transgender boys (students assigned female at birth who identify as male) are generally permitted to play on boys' teams without needing a special waiver from the MHSAA. Waivers for transgender girls are evaluated on a case-by-case basis according to posted policies.
While federal policies ban transgender athlete participation in sports, Michigan updated the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) in early 2023 to include protections for LGBTQ residents. As a result, Michigan residents are protected from categorical bans related to gender identity. Schools and government buildings have introduced a variety of restroom and locker room policies and facilities that aim to preserve safety and privacy.
Timeline of an Engineered High School Sports Controversy
Early 2025: "Looks Like MHSAA Needs a FAFO Lesson"
The controversy surrounding Ann Arbor Skyline volleyball did not begin with an on‑court incident. Public social media commentary shows how frustrations over federal and state LGBTQ laws bubbled to a boiling point within the prominent conservative "Let Them Be" Facebook group, and other online platforms, leading into the 2025-2026 high school volleyball season. Sean Lechner, of Monroe, took up the issue and has elevated his high school-aged daughter to serve as the "face" of the attacks against the transgender student.
February 2025: Monroe County mother Holli Hall Vallade posted angrily about Michigan's civil rights laws in Let Them Be, "Looks like MHSAA is in need of a FAFO lesson. Too bad it will be at the expense of student athletes." She linked to an article by independent writer Dave Bondy criticizing the MHSAA for following state laws and not Trump's Executive Orders.
April 5, 2025: Vallade posted a video from Monica Yatooma of the anti-LGBTQ Great Education Initiative, in which Trump's Education Secretary Linda McMahon discusses her new Title IX Investigations Team. Vallade's caption reads, "The more Title IX complaints we submit from Michigan, the better! Let's put Whitmer, Michigan Dems, and the Elliot Larsen [sic] debacle on blast for the whole country to see."
May - July 2025: Members of the Lechner family post disparaging comments about Monroe High School's athletic programs and lack of attention to baseball. (See the gallery at the end of this post.) The family became visibly disgruntled after the school's former athletic director was replaced in the wake of a scandal involving an inappropriate relationship between a cheerleading coach and student (FOX2). They continue to post publicly about not liking the new AD hire, Dr. Chet Hesson.
As the 2025-2026 school year began, a transgender student was selected for the Skyline girls’ volleyball team. Her participation complied with Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) and school policies.
September 5, 2025: "Outkick" reporter Dan Zaksheske published his first "exclusive" story about the Skyline player. He noted that he attempted to search the player's Instagram profile for photos and videos, but the player subsequently made their profile private. Initial coverage included anonymous sources from Saline and Ann Arbor.
Transphobic organizations "He Cheated" and "ICONS" RT'd the story, adding the player's name and photos, which was RT'd by Walled Lake parent Gabi Tiaga. The post was further amplified by the transphobic clothing brand, XX-XY, and its founder, Jennifer Sey.
September 9, 2025: Ann Arbor Skyline played Monroe High School and won in three sets. There were no reported injuries, forfeits, or unusual incidents. At the time, no formal concerns were raised about the match. (Ann Arbor Skyline finished the season with a record of 28-10-4.)
October 14, 2025: During the Walled Lake Board of Education meeting, parent Gabi Tiaga spoke out against the Ann Arbor Skyline volleyball player, and Vallade shared the video to Let Them Be.
Tiaga's public comments appeared to coincide with the Lechner family's involvement in the dispute, which did not begin until at least mid-October 2025.
Mid-Season 2025: Outkick's Repetitive Coverage Raises The National Stakes
Founded by a lawyer with family ties to suburban Detroit, "Outkick's" mission is "To provide fearless, unfiltered commentary and challenge perceived liberal bias in mainstream sports journalism, appealing to the 'American sports fan.'" The website was acquired by the FOX Corporation in 2021.
Outkick amplifies FOX News’ anti-LGBTQ sports stories, including on former gymnast Jennifer Sey of the XX-XY clothing line. The platform also hosts Riley Gaines' podcast, "Gaines for Girls."
Throughout the season's playoff weeks in November, Dan Zaksheske and Sean Lechner engaged with Outkick content on the matter. In a Facebook post, Lechner stated his intention to make this issue the “NextPlay.”
The girls' high school volleyball playoff bracket eliminated Monroe High School, but Ann Arbor Skyline advanced to the quarterfinals. As attention grew during the playoffs, Skyline’s principal eventually revoked Zaksheske’s press pass to prevent further disruptions across teams and to ensure student safety.
Despite the rejection, Zaksheske posted more videos obtained from spectators and published several more Outkick articles, even claiming he was being "harassed" by fans in a piece published by parent outlet FOX News.
On November 18, the date of the state championship game, State House Representative Gina Johnsen and several colleagues issued an open letter to the MHSAA requesting that the public be allowed to review the medical testing and records or the MHSAA waiver of the Skyline athlete.
No documents were released, but later that evening, Ann Arbor Skyline lost 0-3 in a quarterfinal match against Byron Center at Richland Gull Lake High School.
The 2025 Season Encore: A Partisan Speaker and Event Inspire Monroe County Republicans
Political candidates, including Laura Perry for State House and Senator Joe Bellino, began to post in support of the Lechner family. Notably, Holli Hall Vallade flagged Senator Bellino in the Let Them Be group for voting in favor of the ELCRA protections passed in 2023. Jim DeSana was also prominently tagged in posts by the Lechners.
On November 23, the Lechners attended and posted about a Monroe County Republican Party event featuring a traveling speaker, Paula Scanlan. Like Riley Gaines, she swam against Lia Thomas. Scanlan is affiliated with Young America's Foundation (YAF), a partner organization of Moms for Liberty and a party organization in their Title IX lawsuits. YAF's website indicates that Paula earns up to $5,000 per speaking engagement.
State News reports about another recent campus talk, "Scanlan initially seemed to have moved on from her time at Penn. Holding a computer science degree from an Ivy League school, Scanlan began working in finance in New York City until, one day, she left it all behind to re-enter the culture war. Now a fully integrated member of the right-wing speaker ecosystem, Scanlan spends her time speaking at college campuses, traveling to Republican events and creating content for her online following."
After the Monroe County event, the Lechners noted, "[Paula] is such a powerful speaker and an incredible influence." Many of the politicians associated with Lechner's December 8 Title IX press conference attended and sponsored the November 23 event.
Editor's note: According to a recent podcast episode by Pablo Torre, Betsy DeVos paid Riley Gaines $100,000 to speak at events opposing Title IX updates and transgender athletes.
The December 8, 2025 Title IX Press Conference
Before the December 8 conference, Sean Lechner and State House candidate Laura Perry urged supporters to attend and hear their Title IX complaint regarding the September 9 match. The Monroe player’s mother posted that Riley Gaines had even called to offer her support.
Outkick's Dan Zaksheske publicly thanked a visiting FOX colleague for video footage that he posted on X. He also joined colleague Riley Gaines' podcast to discuss the issue and continue pressing it.
Reportedly, after Lechner's press conference, Monroe Public Schools' Board of Education, comprised entirely of officers and fellow members of the Monroe County Republican Party and Moms for Liberty, requested that staff not speak about the issue.
On Friday, December 12, Monroe High School Athletic Director Dr. Chet Hesson was invited to speak on the Uncloseted Media podcast. During his brief appearance, he expressed empathy for Ann Arbor's athlete, who was publicly identified and thrust into the national spotlight. Over the weekend, Monroe High School placed Hesson on administrative leave, pending an investigation.
During the week of January 5, 2026, Sean Lechner posted negative content about Chet Hesson on X, which appeared to threaten his employment. There has been no word from the school district about the Title IX investigation or its timeline.
Transgender athletes' participation in sports is reaching another social fever pitch because the issue will be addressed by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 13. Lechner and other parties involved in the Monroe Public Schools complaint are posting their support for participation bans.
At Odds: Title IX's Original Intent vs. Moms for Liberty's Modern Interpretations
Title IX, enacted in 1972, was designed to prevent sex‑based discrimination in federally funded education programs. It is a framework for determining when a student has been denied equal access to education due to severe and pervasive harassment or discrimination, and for guiding institutional responses.
Title IX was never intended to function as a broad enforcement tool for ideological disputes. Its effectiveness depends on careful, fact‑based investigations that prioritize student safety, due process, and educational access.
Advocates for survivors of sexual harassment and assault have warned that politicizing Title IX, by redirecting attention and resources toward symbolic conflicts, risks weakening its capacity to address documented, systemic abuse by peers, educators, coaches, and trainers.
Monroe High School experienced such an issue during the 2023-2024 school year, throughout which a cheerleading coach maintained an inappropriate relationship with a student. The district superintendent commented, "it's hard to hold people accountable on hearsay."
The Trump Administration and Betsy DeVos are widely recognized for setting back victims' rights by severely restricting Title IX to favor the accused.
Women's rights advocates and victim advocates who lobbied for a more supportive Title IX rule initiated the process during the Biden Administration. Hundreds of victims gave testimony on Capitol Hill.
However, in 2024, Moms for Liberty prepared to challenge any Biden updates and preserve Trump's rule. Upon the rule's release, which did not yet include guidance for sports, Moms for Liberty and Young America's Foundation filed immediate lawsuits, citing conflicts with their religious beliefs. Public comments emphasized worries about transgender people rather than any mention of protections for girls and women from harassment, assault, or abuse. The Supreme Court reinstated the Trump-era Title IX rule in January 2025.
Moms for Liberty, Young America's, and athletes like Riley Gaines did not request an opportunity to discuss ways to protect girls and women in public schools or facilities, or to address sports specifically. They filed to strike down the entire rule, including enhanced protections for girls and women.
Volleyball Controversy Updates as of October 2026: Midterm Election Campaign Trail Opportunities
After Sean Lechner's December 2025 press conference, an independent investigation found that Monroe Public Schools did not violate Title IX (Michigan Advance). As a result, Athletic Director Dr. Chet Hesson was reinstated.
This didn't sit well with Sean Lechner, who began collecting donations for a sports-focused nonprofit organization called "Protect Her Game." The foundation had not yet been registered with the state before collecting funds and was reported to the Michigan Attorney General. It's unclear how the funds were or are being used.
Heading into the November 2026 Midterm elections, the Lechner family and elected allies appear to be leveraging the Ann Arbor Skyline match for timely political momentum:
Thirteen months after the Monroe vs. Ann Arbor volleyball match, Lechner announced a federal lawsuit on October 9, 2026 against Monroe Public Schools, its superintendent and athletic director. (CBS) The family is represented by the Thomas More Law Center of Ann Arbor, a Christian conservative nonprofit that will cover the Plaintiff's extensive costs. This is the latest of several lawsuits brought forth by such groups against public schools in Michigan. The Thomas More Law Center has a "poor" rating for governance from Charity Navigator.
Lechner and his daughter hosted a press conference in Grosse Pointe with GOP gubernatorial candidate John James on October 12. James criticized public schools and promoted a voucher-like program that directs public funds to private religious schools (FOX2).
During their October 2026 meeting, the Monroe Public Schools Board of Education introduced a policy to ban transgender girls from participation in sports, restrooms, and locker rooms (see below). Editor's Note: This policy is illegal in Michigan under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.
Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to attend a rally on October 15, 2026 at LevelUp Monroe, the Lechner's club volleyball gym (CBS). The Trump Administration recently touted rollbacks on Title IX protections for girls and women, which increase the burden of proof of sexual harassment, abuse, and assault on victims and enhance protections for the accused (The Hill).
Policy Gaps Still Leave All Students in a Vulnerable Position
Civil‑rights protections like ELCRA and Title IX exist to expand access to education and to protect students from real harm. When they are repurposed as tools in partisan battles, their credibility and ability to protect students suffer.
In cases where a Michigan victim's attorney knows a complaint won't meet the restricted Title IX rules, they can opt to try a case under a state's civil rights laws. In one example, an Alpena, Michigan, elementary school-aged girl experienced harassment by a peer. Neither Title IX nor Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act applies, leaving the victim defenseless.
K-12 Dive reports that Trump's Office of Civil Rights resolved no K-12 sexual harassment or assault complaints in 2025.
The New York Times finds that the Cornell University sexual assault case highlights a drop in resolved sexual assault cases under Trump. The administration has shifted its attention to blocking protections for transgender students.
In October 2026, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that sexual offenders and their pre-2011 records could be removed from the state's registries. This included predators like Larry Nassar, whose investigations were botched for years after initial reports by Michigan State University gymnast victims, creating dozens more. (He will remain imprisoned for his later offenses.)
The Ann Arbor Skyline dispute is not an isolated event. It reflects a broader pattern in which school‑based conflicts are elevated into political symbols, often detached from evidence and policy realities.
The question facing Michigan schools is not whether to protect students but how.
Will policy debates be grounded in data, proportionality, and student well‑being? Or will schools continue to be drawn into national political disputes that leave fundamental inequities and genuine safety concerns unresolved?
Students deserve learning environments defined by fairness, dignity, and care, not by fear, spectacle, or ideological escalation.
This discussion and resulting solutions will take time, but time is the least we can give to Michigan kids.
Appendix: Screenshots of Disparaging Public Remarks about Monroe Athletics and Chet Hesson
Comments