After a well-known Pokémon VGC player was called out for allegedly making transphobic comments, the community has found a new Trans Rights icon in Amoonguss—the very Pokémon that defeated the player in the Orlando Regionals finals this past weekend.
On April 15, a screenshot began circulating on X within the Pokémon community in which well-known VGC player Neil Patel allegedly said he “will never support people changing their gender, that’s mental illness.” Prior to the circulation of this transphobic comment, Patel was already being hit with backlash for catfishing while pretending to be a minor. Less than 30 minutes after the transphobic screenshot was posted, the VGC player stated he would be leaving the community.
