Corporate skate shoe brand Nike is allegedly backing a controversial study involving transgender kids and hormone treatments.
That’s a big reason why a lot of core skaters aren’t showing support for the company. It’s not just about shoes. It’s about what the brand stands for.
In a long feature by The New York Times, buried deep in the text was a line noting that Nike is reportedly funding a five-year study tracking physical performance changes in transgender youth as they begin medical transition.
The researcher, Joanna Harper, casually mentioned that “the study is being funded by Nike.”
Since then, Nike hasn’t answered any direct questions about it. Not from OutKick. Not from other journalists. No public statement, no comment, no clarification.
But this isn’t the only signal. Nike's website has a whole section championing gender ideology, including partnerships with groups that promote medical transitions for kids.
They talk a lot about inclusion and identity, but nothing on the site references this specific study.
According to reports, one of the lead researchers, Dr. Kathryn Ackerman from Boston Children’s Hospital, has said publicly that Nike provided them funding.
It’s unclear why a skate shoe company would take a direct interest in medically transitioning kids.
But it’s easy to see why longtime skateboarders feel uncomfortable with the direction things are going.
To a growing number of people in the scene, this isn't about being progressive. It's about a massive brand quietly helping shape science to justify letting male athletes into women’s competitions, and possibly risking kids' health along the way.
And when something starts to feel this wrong, no amount of marketing or rainbow-themed merch is going to fix it.