A Michigan father, Sean Lechner, has reported that his family has received death threats and racist insults after he and his teenage daughter openly discussed her competing against a transgender athlete in girls’ volleyball. Sean Lechner shared these experiences with Fox News Digital, stating that the threats included violence and the potential bombing of their home. The situation escalated to the point where the FBI contacted them.
Despite the hostility, the Lechner family also felt support from various groups. They had initially spoken out the previous fall and resumed interviews recently to advocate for protecting girls’ sports. Sean emphasized his role as a father standing by his daughter, Briley, her teammates, and other female athletes who are concerned about safety and fairness in sports.
Briley, a high school volleyball player, explained that her father bore the brunt of the negative reactions. She herself received messages accusing her of spreading hate against transgender individuals. The backlash caused Briley to feel abandoned by adults in political and educational positions who she expected to protect female athletes.
Briley, 16, stated, “For me, a 16-year-old girl, to have to be the one that speaks out about it and fights for the change, it’s just not right, in my opinion.”
The controversy started when Briley unknowingly competed against a transgender athlete in volleyball during her freshman year. Sean Lechner filed a Title IX complaint claiming that Briley’s team had to share a locker room with the transgender athlete, which they were not informed about beforehand. The school allegedly told them they had to protect the trans athlete and offered no apology or acknowledgment.
Following these events, the U.S. Department of Education opened investigations into Monroe and Ann Arbor Public Schools. The Michigan High School Athletic Association’s policy allows for decisions about transgender athletes on a case-by-case basis. Still, schools determine regular-season participation on their own.
The Supreme Court’s decision on June 30 indicated that Title IX allows schools to maintain separate teams based on biological sex but does not mandate it for every state. Michigan’s own civil rights law currently maintains the existing transgender participation policy unless changed by lawmakers.
Briley acknowledged that the opposing transgender athlete might feel targeted, recognizing the difficulty in focusing solely on one individual’s impact. Due to these events, she is reconsidering attending college in Michigan and intends to examine schools’ policies before making a decision.
Sean Lechner expressed that the family remains determined despite receiving threats. They have turned the adversity into a purpose and remain committed to advocating for what they perceive as right.
He stated, “We won’t be intimidated, and we won’t be silenced. We will continue to fight until my daughter—and every female athlete—has the safety, privacy, fairness, and opportunities they deserve.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to several involved parties for comments regarding the ongoing situation.
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