Seattle Times columnist resigns after paper scrapped Sophie Cunningham piece

Matt Calkins, a long-serving sports columnist at The Seattle Times, has decided to resign after the newspaper declined to publish a column in support of transgender athlete Sophie Cunningham. Calkins, who had worked for the paper for 11 years, announced his departure on social media Thursday, citing his decision as entirely his own.

The impetus for his resignation was the Times' refusal to publish a column he wrote from the perspective of two female student athletes who opposed competing against biological males. This was one of several pieces Calkins had written that had been "spiked," leading him to feel he could no longer properly perform his role as a columnist.

The column in question was sparked by the "Support Sophie Cunningham" rally for the Indiana Fever's game against the Seattle Storm, which took place following Cunningham's comments about transgender athletes. Calkins had written a column from the viewpoint of the student athletes, including 16-year-old Ahnaleigh Wilson, who was reportedly insulted by Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton for holding a sign in support of Cunningham.

Despite his resignation, Calkins expressed appreciation for his time at The Seattle Times and the talent within the organization, stating that he had no ill will towards anyone there. He noted that his decision was not an easy one and that he currently feels "scared" about the future but has received national attention as expected due to the cultural debate surrounding the story.