Payton McNabb’s Sorority Expulsion: How a Victim Became the Target of University Policies

Wren Crowe

7 days ago

In a controversy that has drawn national attention and reignited debates about gender identity, privacy, and institutional policies, women’s sports advocate Payton McNabb was expelled from her sorority, Delta Zeta, following an incident where she filmed a transgender woman in a women’s restroom at Western Carolina University. The expulsion, which occurred in May 2024, has since become a focal point in ongoing discussions about transgender rights, women’s spaces, and organizational responses to contentious social issues. This case highlights the complex intersection of individual beliefs, institutional policies, and evolving societal norms surrounding gender identity.

“A man using the girls bathroom at Western Carolina University. Unreal”

On May 2, 2024, Payton McNabb, a female student at Western Carolina University, was confronted with an unsettling situation when she encountered a transgender woman invading the privacy of a women’s restroom. Outraged and fearing for her safety, McNabb bravely recorded the incident and shared it on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), exposing the intrusion to the public. The video, which exploded online with widespread support, captured McNabb challenging the transgender individual’s presence in a space meant to be a safe haven for women. As the transgender woman casually dried her hands, seemingly unbothered by the disruption she was causing, McNabb demanded, “What are you doing?” The individual callously replied, “Going to the bathroom,” as if her presence in the women’s facility was inconsequential.

When McNabb pressed further, asking why she was in the women’s restroom, the transgender woman boldly declared, “I’m a trans girl,” prompting McNabb to firmly counter, “But you’re not a girl.” Undeterred, McNabb asserted her right to safety, stating, “I pay a lot of money to be safe in this bathroom,” highlighting the violation she felt as a paying female student. The transgender individual dismissively responded, “Me too,” before attempting to brush off the confrontation and leave, showing little regard for the distress she had caused.

McNabb captioned the video, “A man using the girls bathroom at Western Carolina University. Unreal,” a sentiment that resonated widely, racking up approximately 295,000 views on her personal account and an additional 15 million views after being amplified by the “Libs of TikTok” account as of May 14, 2024. The incident sparked outrage among those who saw it as yet another example of female students’ privacy and security being undermined.

This disturbing encounter unfolded against North Carolina’s contentious history on bathroom access. In 2016, the state passed HB2, a law designed to protect women by requiring individuals to use facilities matching their birth certificate sex. Although it was later repealed under pressure, allowing transgender individuals to encroach on spaces aligned with their gender identity rather than biological reality, the incident reignited debates about female safety. Complicating matters, North Carolina law prohibits filming in areas where privacy is reasonably expected, like bathrooms, though it remains unclear if this applies to common areas rather than stalls—leaving McNabb’s attempt to document the intrusion in a legal gray area.

Following the incident and the video’s circulation, Delta Zeta sorority leadership took disciplinary action against McNabb

Following the incident and the video’s circulation, Delta Zeta sorority leadership took disciplinary action against McNabb. On May 20, 2024, the organization expelled her, citing violations of the sorority’s “Anti-Bullying Policy” and “Moral-Prejudicial Conduct” guidelines1. According to documentation reported by The Daily Signal, the anti-bullying violation involved activities “reasonably perceived as being dehumanizing, intimidating, hostile, threatening, or otherwise likely to evoke fear of physical harm or emotional distress,” while the moral-prejudicial conduct violation concerned behavior that might bring the sorority “into disrepute”.

McNabb has claimed that she received support from her local sorority chapter and had explained to Delta Zeta leadership that her beliefs were rooted in her faith and personal experiences . She also pointed out that the sorority’s constitution explicitly states that “Membership in Delta Zeta may be obtained only by initiation into a college chapter and it is only open to women who are matriculated students, former students and faculty of colleges and universities of recognized standing”. Despite these factors, the national leadership proceeded with her expulsion.

Western Carolina University also responded to the incident, issuing a statement emphasizing its commitment to “fostering a safe and welcoming environment for all students” and noting that the “university’s primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of all members of its campus community”2. The university affirmed its stance against unlawful discrimination and its dedication to principles that ensure equal access to education for all students2. University officials stated they were investigating the situation but provided no further comment3.

McNabb is described as one of the most vocal young advocates for women’s sports and serves as an ambassador for the Independent Women’s Forum

Understanding Payton McNabb’s response to the bathroom encounter requires context regarding her background and previous experiences. McNabb is described as one of the most vocal young advocates for women’s sports and serves as an ambassador for the Independent Women’s Forum. Her advocacy work began following a traumatic incident during her high school volleyball career in September 2022, when she sustained a severe injury after being struck in the head by a volleyball spiked by a player she identified as transgender6.

This injury reportedly resulted in a traumatic brain injury with partial paralysis on her right side, effectively ending her athletic aspirations6. Following this experience, McNabb became actively involved in advocating for legislation that restricts transgender women from participating in women’s sports and using women’s facilities6. She has testified in support of such legislation in North Carolina, which was eventually approved and implemented in August 20236.

McNabb’s advocacy work has gained significant recognition, including being mentioned by President Donald Trump during his March 2025 address to Congress1. In this speech, Trump highlighted McNabb’s story as part of his justification for executive orders stipulating that the federal government only acknowledge two immutable sexes (male and female) and prohibiting transgender women from competing in women’s sports6.

Her actions were motivated by genuine safety concerns and that she was exercising her right to speak out about an issue important to her

The incident at Western Carolina University and McNabb’s subsequent sorority expulsion exemplify the tensions between competing concerns over privacy, safety, and individual rights. The controversy touches on several complex legal and ethical questions that institutions across the country are increasingly required to navigate.

From one perspective, supporters of McNabb argue that her actions were motivated by genuine safety concerns and that she was exercising her right to speak out about an issue important to her. They contend that sororities, as explicitly female organizations, should prioritize the concerns of biological women and that her expulsion represents an institutional capitulation to progressive ideology at the expense of women’s rights and safety1.

From another perspective, critics of McNabb’s actions point to privacy expectations in restroom facilities and the dignity of transgender individuals. They argue that filming someone in a restroom without consent potentially violates both social norms and possibly legal protections, regardless of the individual’s gender identity4. Moreover, they contend that transgender women using women’s facilities in accordance with their gender identity is protected by evolving legal standards and institutional non-discrimination policies2.

Western Carolina University’s response reflects the delicate balance institutions must maintain between various stakeholders’ interests. The university emphasized its commitment to providing a safe environment for all students while also affirming principles of equal access and non-discrimination2. This approach illustrates how educational institutions are increasingly expected to develop comprehensive policies that address gender identity while also ensuring all students feel respected and protected.

President Trump’s executive orders restricting transgender recognition in federal contexts and prohibiting transgender women from women’s sports represent one approach to these issues

The McNabb case exists within a larger national conversation about transgender rights, women’s spaces, and the balance between inclusion and traditional sex-based distinctions. This incident occurred during a period of intense political and social debate regarding transgender individuals’ participation in various aspects of society, particularly in sex-segregated spaces and activities.

Advocacy organizations like the Independent Women’s Forum, with which McNabb is affiliated, have positioned themselves as defenders of women’s sex-based rights and spaces5. These groups often argue that allowing transgender women into traditionally female-only spaces undermines women’s safety, privacy, and opportunities, particularly in competitive sports5.

In contrast, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and their supporters maintain that transgender individuals should be recognized according to their gender identity rather than their biological sex assigned at birth. They argue that excluding transgender women from women’s spaces constitutes discrimination and can lead to significant psychological harm and increased vulnerability for an already marginalized population2.

The expulsion of Payton McNabb from Delta Zeta highlights a growing and deeply concerning trend: institutions prioritizing ideological compliance over the rights, safety, and privacy of women

This national debate has increasingly influenced institutional policies at various levels. President Trump’s executive orders restricting transgender recognition in federal contexts and prohibiting transgender women from women’s sports represent one approach to these issues6. Conversely, many educational institutions and organizations have adopted more inclusive policies that acknowledge gender identity as a protected characteristic and allow transgender individuals to access facilities and programs corresponding to their gender identity2.

The expulsion of Payton McNabb from Delta Zeta highlights a growing and deeply concerning trend: institutions prioritizing ideological compliance over the rights, safety, and privacy of women. With federal policy now recognizing only two sexes—male and female—the legal foundation is clear. Yet, incidents like this suggest that enforcement of these principles is being undermined by institutions more concerned with appeasing activist pressure than upholding biological reality.

McNabb’s case is not just about one student’s experience—it represents a broader cultural shift where speaking out against men in women’s spaces is met with punishment rather than protection. Women’s rights, hard-won over generations, are now at risk of being erased under the guise of inclusion. If universities, sororities, and governing bodies refuse to stand up for biological reality, the burden falls on individuals like McNabb to make their voices heard. The question is whether society will listen—or continue down a path that ignores science, safety, and common sense.

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