Latest news with #PaulaScanlan
New York Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
UPenn is finally doing the right thing — and we should thank young women like Paula Scanlan and Riley Gaines who never gave up the fight
What a victory for sanity — and for truth and fairness. This week, the University of Pennsylvania apologized to female swimmers on their 2021-2022 roster who had to endure a season of changing next to a biological male in the locker room and competing with the strapping 6 foot 1 athlete Lia, formerly Will, Thomas. They also restored any school records broken by Thomas, who became the first transgender athlete to win a division 1 NCAA title. 7 As part of a resolution, the University of Pennsylvania is now scrapping Lia Thomas' records. USA TODAY Sports This wasn't some heartfelt moral reckoning, rather to resolve a US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights investigation into the school's violation of Title IX for allowing a biological male to swim on the women's team. But still, it's a win. It's poignant that this about face was forced by Thomas because he was the figure who took the debate of trans athletes in women's sports from a niche issue to a full-on nuclear culture war battle. This madness started relatively low key in 2017 when trans runner Andraya Yearwood took two titles in Connecticut high school girls track. 7 Former UPenn swimmer Paula Scanlan said the school silenced her and other female swimmers who called out the injustice of having Thomas swim with the women. Courtesy of Paula Scanlan The following year, another trans runner, Terry Miller also ran girl's track, and the pair's participation and wins sparked a debate — and a long legal battle — over the state policy that allowed trans athletes to compete in women's sports. But in 2021, when broad-shouldered Thomas jumped into the pool to compete as a member of the women's team, the issue was rightfully pushed to the national forefront. Thomas was a member of the men's team at UPenn for three years, then took off a year to transition. He met the NCAA's hormone therapy requirements at the time, but was clearly a man amongst girls. His physical advantage was undeniable. And it was ridiculous. 7 While Lia Thomas' teammates were silenced by the University, the trans swimmer was splashed across the media and celebrated. ABC News/YouTube Not that many could vocalize it. At the time, athletes, including Thomas' teammate Paula Scanlan, were told to shut up and put up. According to Scanlan, UPenn told its lady swimmers that his participation was a 'non-negotiable,' and if they had any issues, they were provided with counseling services to 'help' them 'be OK with it.' 'The university wanted us to be quiet and they did it in a very effective way. They continued to tell us that our opinions were wrong and if we had an issue about it, we were the problem and it's frightening and your future job is on the line,' she said. 7 After tying with Lia Thomas in the 200 free at the NCAA championship, Riley Gaines became a vocal advocate for fairness in women's sports. USA TODAY Sports Not only was it shameful to make them change in front of a male and have him crush other female swimmers in the pool, but an Ivy League institution squashing dissent from women in service of a confused man, was even more insane. It showed the school's disconnect with their once prized liberal values. But it wasn't just UPenn. Thomas was celebrated across social media and in various outlets. In 2023, ESPN even included the trans athlete in their women's history month segment. In December of 2021, as Thomas was smashing records, a fed up Scanlan spoke to Outkick, but did so anonymously. 7 Lia Thomas towers over competitiors after winning hte 500 freestyle at hte NCAA tournament. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images 'Pretty much everyone individually has spoken to our coaches about not liking this,' she said at the time. In March of that year, a group of Ivy League parents wrote an op-ed published in The Post speaking about the injustice. 'Parents, coaches, swimmers, and rational, logical people know this is grossly unfair.' The group wrote anonymously to 'protect their kids.'. 'Female swimmers have not consented to this. In fact, many of them expressly said no. What response did they receive? Be quiet. A new ideology ruled. 'Transwomen are women' no exceptions; the girls' concerns: 'transphobic,' the piece noted. 7 At 6 foot 1 and having undergone male puberty, Lia Thomas possessed an obvious physical advantage NCAA Photos via Getty Images Even on twitter — this was months before Elon Musk bought the platform — people were shut down and cancelled for 'misgendering.' Common sense discourse was verboten and more and more dominant trans athletes emerged in various sports, including cycling and track and field. And yet some courageous voices emerged — and thankfully never shut up. Riley Gaines swam for the University of Kentucky and tied with Thomas for fifth in the 200-yard freestyle at the NCAA tournament. She took up the cause at great personal risk. 7 In February, President Trump signed an executive order keeping biologial males out of women's sports. Getty Images Simply by calling for fairness in women's sports, she was instantly branded a transphobe and a bigot. Scanlan soon unmasked herself and joined Gaines. (And organizations like Alliance Defending Freedom and Independent Women's Forum provided wind at the movement's back). Now, close to 80% of Americans believe biological men shouldn't play in women's sports. But back then, to say such a thing was an act of courage and defiance. They raised the red flags and started a tidal wave — and took loads of licks in the process.
Fox News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
A 'Big Win' For Women's Sports
The University of Pennsylvania has been at the heart of the debate over transgender athletes since awarding accolades to controversial competitor Lia Thomas. After an investigation from President Trump's Department of Education, UPenn has now agreed to keep transgender athletes out of women's sports and restore titles to the women who came in second behind biological males. Former member of the UPenn swim team Paula Scanlan joins the Rundown to explain why her alma mater's updated decision is a win for female athletes and the Trump administration. Border patrol agents have a massive responsibility to both protect and secure America's borders. Despite risking their lives trying to catch criminals like drug smugglers and human traffickers, much of a border patrol agent's job involves saving lives too. Army veteran and former border patrol agent Vincent Vargas joins retired Staff Sergeant Joey Jones to highlight the complexity of the job and what led him down this career path. Plus commentary from the managing partner of The Bahnsen Group, David Bahnsen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Fox News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Former UPenn Swimmer Reacts To The University Stripping Lia Thomas Of Program Records: 'Shows Some Level Of Accountability'
Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Paula Scanlan joins Fox Across America With guest host Rich Zeoli to share her thoughts on her alma mater coming to an agreement with the Department of Education which resulted in the school stripping program records previously held by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.
Fox News
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump admin rules UPenn violated Title IX, demands school return honors to female athletes
The University of Pennsylvania was found to have "violated Title IX by denying women equal opportunities by permitting males to compete in women's intercollegiate athletics and to occupy women-only intimate facilities," the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Monday. The OCR said it will give the university 10 days to be in compliance with Title IX or risk facing a criminal referral to the Justice Department. "Little girls who look up to Riley Gaines and Paula Scanlan can find hope in today's action – the Trump Administration will not allow male athletes to invade female private spaces or compete in female categories," acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a news release. "UPenn has a choice to make: do the right thing for its female students and come into full compliance with Title IX immediately or continue to advance an extremist political project that violates federal antidiscrimination law and puts UPenn's federal funding at risk." Fox News Digital reached out to the University of Pennsylvania for comment. The OCR demanded that the school issue a statement on its intention to follow Title IX along with two other key actions. "Restore to all female athletes all individual athletic records, titles, honors, awards or similar recognition for Division I swimming competitions misappropriated by male athletes competing in female categories. "Send a letter to each female athlete whose individual recognition is restored expressing an apology on behalf of the University for allowing her educational experience in athletics to be marred by sex discrimination." The issue stemmed from Lia Thomas' participation on the women's swim team during the 2021-22 season, becoming the first transgender woman to win a national championship. Thomas broke multiple records at the school as well. Paula Scanlan, a former teammate of Thomas' at the time, detailed to congressional lawmakers what she had to deal with in emotional testimony in 2023. Thomas was able to compete at the NCAA Division I women's level due to the organization's gender-participation policy at the time. President Donald Trump has since signed an executive order to ban biological males from women's and girls' sports. The NCAA altered its policy in an attempt to comply, but women's sports advocates have said the change didn't go far enough. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
