Photo via Out Magazine
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The Olympics has served as the inspirational celebration of global athletic talent since the first modern Summer Games took place in 1896 Athens. For 128 years and counting, this tradition has promoted international unity, cultural exchange, and healthy competition between nations. Countries use the Olympics as a rallying point for their citizens and as a tool to passively showcase their power. At the 2024 Olympics, the United States of America triumphed in both regards—to the detriment of one woman, Imane Khelif.
It seemed inevitable that the U.S. would do well in the medal count, with seven straight first-place finishes heading into this year’s 2024 Games. What the world could not have expected, however, were the events following a regularly scheduled women’s Welterweight Boxing match. Algeria’s Imane Khelif faced off against Italy’s Angela Carini in the second round of the tournament. Each fighter stepped into the ring with confidence, but after only 36 seconds and a single punch to the face, Carini raised her glove to signal a timeout. This moment marked the beginning of a dramatic series of events. After a brief discussion with her coach, she gestured to her headgear. Carini subsequently returned to the match, took one more punch, then raised her glove again, signaling a forfeit after just an additional 10 seconds. Understandable confusion swept the crowd as Carini began to shout, “It’s not fair!” at her coach just before the decision was called and Khelif’s hand was raised. Despite her efforts to show respect for her competitor, Khelif was rejected and Carini fell to her knees sobbing. This marked a controversial moment of bitterness and humiliation.
What ensued after these events could be described as nothing less than a digital onslaught against Khelif. Within minutes, users on X (formerly Twitter) began to question Khelif’s eligibility to compete in the women’s division based on her “masculine” appearance and “abnormal” physical dominance in the match. It would later be revealed that Khelif was previously disqualified from a women’s boxing competition for failing vague “gender tests.” Khelif had been cleared by the International Olympic Committee to compete as a woman, as she had always done, because she does not identify as transgender or intersex and has lived her entire life as a woman. Amid the national controversy surrounding trans women in women’s sports, transphobic trolls claimed that her abilities surpassed what any cisgender woman could naturally achieve: they then set out to prove it. While Carini’s emotional outburst can be seen as a catalyst for this wave of hate, the focus of this article is not her response. Instead, it will unpack one of the ways in which both transgender and cisgender women are having to navigate the dangerous circumstances surrounding the increase of transphobia.
Transvestigation—a portmanteau of transgender and investigation—describes the process by which right-wing extremists use pseudo-scientific methods to “investigate” whether someone is transgender. It regularly involves the claims of certain traits such as shoulder width and jaw shape to be exclusively male or female. This harmful practice serves to bolster the incorrect belief that visible signs of a person’s “transness” will always be present, thus undermining the lived experiences of trans and cis women alike. Transvestigation promotes the idea that womanhood is superficial and can be reduced down to physical characteristics, like the size of your nose; it creates an offensive culture that is hostile to those who do not fit neatly into these gendered—and often Eurocentric—boxes.
Khelif’s incident is not isolated on the world stage. Public figures such as the French First Lady Brigitte Macron, Tennis Superstar Serena Williams, and even far-right darling Kyle Rittenhouse have all been subjected to intense scrutiny regarding their sex, albeit for various reasons. Macron’s femininity is often questioned on the basis of the sizable age gap between her 71-year-old self and her 46-year-old husband. Similar to former First Lady Michelle Obama, narratives targeting Williams’ muscular physique and powerful position center around racism as well as transphobia. The extreme claims surrounding their failure to conform to white beauty standards exemplify the particular threat posed to Black women. In 2018, online harassment became so bad that Williams had to make the following statement: “I’m happy with who I am and what I am and what I look like.” An affirmation like this, while objectively powerful, shows the dehumanizing pressure that celebrities are under to meet conventional gender expectations. The case of Kyle Rittenhouse is unique, though, because it illustrates not only the extent to which transvestigation can be taken, but also the way the far-right will cannibalize their own just to prove a point. When Rittenhouse published a tweet that somewhat indicated his support of former President Donald Trump was wavering, QAnon members were quick to claim he was “part of a secretive transgender psy-op aimed at harming the MAGA movement.” Evidently, even a cis, straight, white, gun-owning man who deviates ever so slightly from the far right’s concept of masculinity is not immune to accusations of being transgender.
So, if celebrities and lesser-known figures of the right-wing’s media sphere are not safe from transvestigation, it stands to argue that the average woman, trans or not, is vulnerable too. The ramifications of these witch hunts can be fatal. Many untimely deaths in the transgender community can be attributed to the relentless cyberbullying faced by those choosing to present their gender in non-traditional ways. For conservatives engaging in transvestigation, it does not matter whether you are actually transgender; it only matters that you appear transgender to them. The act of being non-traditional is thus grounds for ridicule and ostracism. This pattern demonstrates how public discourse can be twisted to allow for an environment where misinformation thrives and individuals get pitted against each other based on superficial issues rather than meaningful differences. Toxicity like this turns the broader culture to fear, apathy, and eventually direct violence. It calls us back to a time when people were judged and punished for even minor deviations from gender taboos.
It is also important to state which public figures chose to make matters worse during Khelif’s transvestigation and beyond. The author of the Harry Potter book series, J.K. Rowling, is becoming known for her trans-exclusionary feminism. She predictably decided to frame the situation through the lens of Carini’s victimization. To an audience of millions, she tweeted a picture of Khelif trying to comfort Carini while she cried with the caption, “The smirk of a male [who] knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered.” This statement is simply incorrect, and it perpetuates the theory that trans rights are adverse to women’s rights. It tries to pit cis women against trans women with the veiled threat of violence. Logan Paul, YouTube sensation and WWE wrestler, also immediately jumped onto X following the controversy to condemn Khelif, the Olympics, and trans people competing in sports as a whole. He later said that he “might be guilty of spreading misinformation,” but that he would not apologize for the sentiment behind what he was saying. This disgusting display of ignorance is especially concerning, as Paul is meant to be a role model for children across the globe. His comments and actions, often steeped in sensationalism, contribute to a culture that normalizes harmful stereotypes about gender and sexuality. The casualness with which celebrities engage in transvestigation speaks to a troubling trend where popular figures prioritize clicks and controversy over accuracy and compassion.
The implications of misinformation reach further than just the individuals being directly impacted, however. Communities, too, become divided when interactions are driven by fear. The resulting social fragmentation creates a dangerous feedback loop where misinformation circulates unchecked and people feel justified in their prejudice. Baseless claims are platformed online—a place which should ideally promote cross-community dialogue and understanding. Instead, these echo chambers of hateful rhetoric exacerbate polarization. Moreover, the prevalence of transvestigation reflects the larger struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and the broad resistance to accepting diverse identities. Recent legislative actions—such as bans on gender-affirming healthcare for minors, Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill, and restrictions on Drag performances—show a push toward discrimination with the intent of undermining the dignity of LGBTQ+ people as a group. Additionally, the increasing visibility of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in political discourse has fostered a climate of fear and hostility, leading to heightened harassment against community members.
Violence is normalized in a society that openly debates the value of certain lives over others. As legal discrimination and rhetorical violence ramp up, many people turn a blind eye to acts of depravity committed against LGBTQ+ individuals, sometimes even exhibiting tacit approval, as they have been conditioned to believe such actions are justified. This insidious mindset is exacerbated by a media landscape that profits from sensationalism and dehumanization, ignoring its role in escalating the suffering of marginalized communities. In Khelif’s native Algeria, for instance, being transgender is punishable by law, with vigilantes executing or publicly beating members of the LGBTQ+ community. This context makes the accusations against Khelif even more sinister. Beyond the threat to her personal safety, these charges also contribute to a larger narrative legitimizing violence against those who do not conform—intentionally or not. The danger for Algeria’s LGBTQ+ community underscores the urgent need for global solidarity and action, serving as a reminder that the fight against transphobia and violence is a shared responsibility that transcends borders. All information encountered by individuals in this increasingly digital landscape must be critically evaluated. A lot of difficult conversations have to happen where harmful narratives are challenged to curb the rising tide of misinformation. Supportive environments can empower individuals to embrace their identities, reducing stigma and creating safe spaces for the dearth of differences humanity has to offer.
To create a society based on inclusion, we must prioritize empathy over ridicule and understanding over suspicion. By cultivating an environment that values diversity in all forms, we can diminish the damaging effects of transvestigation. This would create a future where everyone can express their identity without the fear of persecution. The responsibility then falls on each of us to challenge transphobia and misogyny, ensuring that our language and actions contribute to a welcoming and respectful culture. This relies on individual efforts as well as collective action to dismantle systems of oppression. As citizens of the U.S. and the world, it is our responsibility to ensure that hate does not become our number one export. The case of Imane Khelif serves as a poignant reminder of the deeply personal toll that online hostility can inflict upon individuals and communities at large. It emphasizes the need for vigilance and the importance of supporting those targeted by misinformation and hate. It is simply not enough to watch from the sidelines. Human equality is not a spectator sport.
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This article was edited by Natasha Tretter and Katie Webb.
