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Rikki Schlott vs. transgender people

Rikki Schlott is an American writer and anti-transgender activist. Schlott promotes the ex-transgender movement and is an opponent of transgender athletes. Schlott is cited twice in US Attorney General Pam Bondi’s 2025 memorandum “Preventing the Mutilation of American Children.”

Background

Rikki Schlott was born in 2000 in Bernardsville, New Jersey to Kim Schlott and real estate entrepreneur Richard L. “Dick” Schlott, who was born in 1937. Schlott grew up with enormous wealth on an estate called Harmony Hollow.

After graduating from the elite private preparatory academy Lawrenceville School in 2018, Schlott enrolled at NYU, eventually dropping out in 2021. Schlott, who identifies as “right-leaning libertarian” and “politically homeless,” claimed it was a hostile environment for like-minded students: “I was afraid to have Thomas Sowell and Jordan Peterson books on my bookshelf.”

In January 2021, while at NYU, Schlott began working as a research and production intern on The Megyn Kelly Show, continuing until 2022.

In February 2021, Schlott began contributing to The Daily Wire, writing pieces on “cancel culture,” praising anti-trans activist Bill Maher, and discussing conservatism on college campuses.

In April 2021, Schlott began contributing to the New York Post, In July, Schlott posted an op-ed claiming “freedom of speech is endangered on college campuses — and I’m fighting back.” Schlott then began contributing more frequently, eventually becoming a columnist in February 2023.

In June 2021, Schlott was named a research fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), continuing until June 2023. Schlott is co-author of The Canceling of the American Mind with FIRE President Greg Lukianoff. That book was heavily promoted by the anti-trans press, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Post, The Free Press, and The Economist.

In October 2021, Schlott began co-hosting the Lost Debate podcast with Ravi Gupta, In 2024, Schlott began attending Columbia University part-time.

Anti-trans activism

Schlott began covering anti-trans topics for the New York Post in 2022.

Following a 2022 guest appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, in 2024 Schlott hosted We Never Had This Conversation on Maher’s Club Random Podcast Network. The show ended after 7 episodes. Guests were Vinod Khosla, Andrew Yang, Evan Mandery, Batya Ungar-Sargon, George Santos, Coleman Hughes, and Buck Angel.

Selected anti-trans writing by Schlott

Schlott, Rikki (June 3, 2025). Trans athlete scandals that rocked high school sports this year. New York Post https://nypost.com/2025/06/03/us-news/trans-athlete-scandals-that-rocked-high-school-sports-this-year/

Schlott, Rikki (April 4, 2025). Disqualified fencer speaks out after dropping out of competition rather than face trans athlete: ‘I don’t want to get hurt.’ New York Post https://nypost.com/2025/04/04/us-news/fencer-stephanie-turner-angry-were-going-along-with-somebodys-fantasy/

Schlott, Rikki (Februry 6, 2025). Lia Thomas’s teammate says Trumps’ trans athlete ban is essential to protect girls. New York Post https://nypost.com/2025/02/06/us-news/lia-thomass-teammate-says-trumps-trans-athlete-ban-is-essential-to-protect-girls/

Schlott, Rikki (November 21, 2024). Trans activist Buck Angel: Trans inmates who want to be in women’s prisons are ‘predators.’ New York Post https://nypost.com/2024/11/21/us-news/trans-activist-buck-angel-on-lgbtq-generational-culture-divide/

Schlott, Rikki (October 8, 2024). Over 5,700 American children had trans surgery between 2019 and 2023, medical group claims: ‘Treated like guinea pigs.’ New York Post https://nypost.com/2024/10/08/us-news/over-5700-americans-under-18-had-trans-surgery-from-2019-23/

Schlott, Rikki (April 16, 2024). We were pushed to transition as teens — now we’re ‘vindicated’ by study showing kids grow out of it. New York Post https://nypost.com/2024/04/16/health/teen-detransitioners-weve-been-vindicated-by-fad-study/

Schlott, Rikki (May 31, 2023). ‘Fastest girl in Connecticut’ Chelsea Mitchell suing state after losing to trans athletes. New York Post https://nypost.com/2023/05/31/runner-chelsea-mitchell-who-lost-to-trans-athletes-this-is-about-fairness/

Schlott, Rikki (June 18, 2022). ‘I literally lost organs:’ Why detransitioned teens regret changing genders. New York Post https://nypost.com/2022/06/18/detransitioned-teens-explain-why-they-regret-changing-genders/

Schlott, Rikki (July 11, 2022). Exclusive | Trans woman returns to life as man and takes aim at the ‘activist’ doctor who turned his life upside down. New York Post https://nypost.com/2022/07/11/trans-woman-returns-to-life-as-man-and-hits-out-at-the-activist-doctor-who-turned-his-life-upside-down/

Schlott, Rikki (November 27, 2021). How my 84-year-old dad helped me see the folly of Gen Z. New York Post https://nypost.com/2021/11/27/how-my-84-year-old-dad-helped-me-see-the-folly-of-gen-z/

Schlott, Rikki (July 31, 2021). Freedom of speech is endangered on college campuses — and I’m fighting back. New York Post https://nypost.com/2021/07/31/freedom-of-speech-is-endangered-at-colleges-so-im-fighting-back/

Schlott, Rikki (April 5, 2021). Is Bill Maher Television’s Last True Liberal? Daily Wire https://www.dailywire.com/news/is-bill-maher-televisions-last-true-liberal

Book

Schlott, Rikki; Lukianoff, Greg (October 30, 2023). The Radicalization of the American Mind. https://www.persuasion.community/p/the-radicalization-of-the-american

Media

Pants On Fire with George Santos, Naja Hall, and Rikki Schlott (April 20, 2025). The press v. George Santos | Pants On Fire with George Santos #118. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw7l2juTKhg

Real Time with Bill Maher, Rikki Schlott, and John McWhorter (March 28, 2025). Overtime: Rikki Schlott, John McWhorter (HBO). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pTzddRJch8

We Never Had This Conversation with Rikki Schlott and Buck Angel (November 20, 2024). Buck Angel | We Never Had This Conversation with Rikki Schlott. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvMlSoC-boE

TRIGGERnometry with Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster (March 6, 2024). What’s REALLY Happening on College Campuses – Rikki Schlott. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRYD_Pcc5NQ

The Psychology Podcast with Scott Barry Kaufman, Greg Lukianoff, and Rikki Schlott (February 16, 2024). Cancelling Cancel Culture w/ Greg Lukianoff & Rikki Schlott | The Psychology Podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bq1beukRyA

The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe and Rikki Schlott (February 14, 2024). Mike Rowe: The Smartest Dropout I Know is Rikki Schlott | The Way I Heard It. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3TfZQCRU_Y

Live from the Table with Noam Dworman, Dan Naturman, Periel Aschenbrand, and Rikki Schlott (February 9, 2024). Live from the Table: Cancel Culture and The Problem with Gen Z with Rikki Schlott. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnn73k7fL0Q

Chris Williamson (January 18, 2024). What They Don’t Want You To Know About Cancel Culture – Rikki Schlott. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAeWTKkz46s

John Stossel (November 7, 2023). Courage is Contagious: Rikki Schlott on Fighting Back Against Cancel Culture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWv5jk8uqtg

Reason TV with Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott (October 25, 2023). Why are college kids terrified? Q&A with Rikki Schlott and Greg Lukianoff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjgNyyYPS78

Skeptic with Michael Shermer, Greg Lukianoff, and Rikki Schlott (October 24, 2023). Cancel Culture and What to Do About It (Greg Lukianoff & Rikki Schlott). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7SRYRtEw2o

The Canceling of the American Mind with Peter Boghossian and Rikki Schlott (October 19, 2023). The Canceling of the American Mind | Peter Boghossian & Rikki Schlott. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDtJu2uV4AI

NewsNation with Leland Vittert, Greg Lukianoff, and Rikki Schlott (October 18, 2023). Cancel Culture coming after the far left | On Balance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doN-Hl5A4-4

FIRE with Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott (October 16, 2023). What is cancel culture? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZuRkgrm1M8

Andrew Yang Podcast with Andrew Yang, Greg Lukianoff, and Rikki Schlott (October 16, 2023). Uncanceling the American Mind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6pR6qdMTgY

Jordan B. Peterson with Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott (Oct 16, 2023). Cancelled Yet? | Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott | EP 388. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KukpEgjkXIk

Anthony Pompliano (November 1, 2022). Gen Z Journalist EXPOSES Woke Culture | Rikki Schlott. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFRSLRpEvoQ

Real Time with Bill Maher, Ross Douthat, Piers Morgan, and Rikki Schlott (August 12, 2022). Overtime: Ross Douthat, Piers Morgan, Rikki Schlott | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HmLVA4Ixf4

Walk-Ins Welcome with Bridget Phetasy and Rikki Schlott (May 12, 2022). Rikki Schlott’s Generation Won’t Talk To People With Differing Opinions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3O-jPJGGNM

Zuby (May 5, 2022). ‘The Battle For Gen Z’ – Rikki Schlott | Real Talk with Zuby #204. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDEMMH4ONSQ

Resources

Rikki Schlott (rikkischlott.com)

New York Post (nypost.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Substack (substack.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Quillette (quillette.com)

Reason (reason.com)

National Review (nationalreview.com)

The Epoch Times (theepochtimes.com)

The Spectator (thespectator.com)

APB Speakers (apbspeakers.com)

The Branch (https://thebranchmedia.org/team/)