A Colorado Springs teacher at the heart of a recent controversy over a reprimand for wearing an anti-transgender shirt to work, has a long history of conservative activism.
Stacy Adair’s story follows a predictable pattern for conservative media outrage. On Aug. 21, LibsofTikTok posted on X, “Stacy Adair, a teacher in Colorado, was reportedly reprimanded by school officials after she wore a ‘XX -XY’ shirt to a pre-school year teacher meeting where no children were present. Colorado Springs School District 11 claims that the shirt caused a ‘disruption to the educational environment.’ How is it a ‘disruption’ to highlight that there are only 2 sexes? Do schools not like scientific facts?”
The story was then picked up by conservative media, including Fox News and the Colorado Springs Gazette.
The shirt in question is from XX-XY Athletics, a sportswear company started by anti-trans activist Jennifer Sey. Sey’s products are regularly available at events like Moms for Liberty Town Halls, Rocky Mountain Voice Freedom Festival, and the Western Conservative Summit, among others. Sey and her brand have also been at the center of a controversy with the WNBA, after Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham called for “biological men” to be excluded from women’s sports. No trans athletes are currently competing, or have ever competed, in the WNBA. Cunningham supporters have shown up to games in XX-XY Athletics-branded apparel, and at one point got into an altercation with the co-owner of the Seattle Storm, who was subsequently given a temporary suspension by the WNBA.
Sey isn’t the only one with strong ties to Republican politics. Adair has long been a figure in activist causes near and dear to Colorado conservatives.
- In 2021, Adair served as an organizer with conservative activist group FEC United, opposing mask mandates for students and “critical race theory” in D11.
- In 2022, Adair spoke at an “election truth rally” headlined by MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.
- In 2023, Adair took part in the conservative training program Leadership Program of the Rockies.
- In 2025, Adair was named “Teacher of the Year” by Teacher Freedom Alliance, an offshoot of the Koch-funded Freedom Foundation, led by disgraced former Oklahoma Superintendent of Schools Ryan Walters.
Not to be outdone by one of his teachers, D11 Board of Education Treasurer Jason Jorgenson, himself no stranger to controversy or conservative politics, sported an XX-XY Athletics shirt at a Sept. 2 board meeting.
