Transgender Unfairness in Sport Competition ... University of Pennsylvania

"The University will not -- on the basis of sex -- exclude female students from participation in, deny female students the benefits of, or subject female students to discrimination  under, any athletic programs." 

"In addition, in providing to female student-athletes intimate facilities such as locker rooms and bathrooms in connection with Penn Athletics, such facilities shall be strictly separated on the basis of sex and comparably provided to each sex."

University of Pennsylvania reversal statement 

 

"We expect to continue to engage with OCR [U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights], to vigorously defending our position." March 2025

"[The University was only following the rules in effect at that time, but is now prepared to] apologize to those who experienced a competitive disadvantage or experienced anxiety because of the policies in effect." June 2025

Penn President Larry Jameson 

University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas speaks to her coach after winning the 500 meter freestyle during an NCAA college swimming meet with Harvard on January 22, 2022.

Josh Reynolds/AP

 

The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights is investigating a school in Denver where a female restroom was converted to an all-gender restroom in an institution where boys have the privilege of exclusive use of a male restroom. Academia was able to practise such 'gender-affirming' absurdities under the previous Biden-led Democratic government, but now that Donald Trump sits in the White House his pledge to crack down on diversity, equity and inclusion politics and make use of Title IX (prevention of sex discrimination in education) in supporting women's rights is in effect.

 

Penn university had been advised by the Education Department of a threat levied against it, to withhold $175 million in federal funds until such time as the university complied with the law. Leading the university to change its mind over contesting the OCR ruling and comply with two executive orders from Trump. 1) Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal government which decries "efforts to eradicate the biological reality of sex", which deprives women "of their dignity safety and well-being".

 

2) Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports: "it shall also be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women's sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth." The civil rights case has thus been settled through the university apologizing to female athletes who were 'disadvantaged' by controversial transgender athlete Lia Thomas whom the university permitted to compete against female swimmers. Furthermore the university committed to restoring individual records and titles to female athletes who lost to Thomas.

 

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas competes in the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in 2022.  Rich von Biberstein / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images file

 

Males will no longer be allowed to compete in female athletic programs, with the university prepared to adopt a 'biology-based' definition of male and female. The University of Pennsylvania celebrated its transgender credentials when it allowed Thomas to compete against female athletes. He originally gained a pathetic ranking of 554th in the 200 men's freestyle in the 2018-19 season competing as a male among other males. When he transitioned to female his utter lack of distinguishing himself as a competitive athlete underwent a gratifying transition when he became one of the top-ranked female swimmers in that event. And no one blinked an eye?

 

At the 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association championships Thomas finished fifth in the women's 200 freestyle and eighth in the women's 100 freestyle. Complaints did emerge over the transgender athlete's competing against women, as well as his use of female locker rooms. The transitioned male-to-female athlete is now, however, refused competitive events against biological women, a change in orientation honouring the law so that the university is now assured of having its funding restored. 

 

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas will not be allowed to compete in the Olympics. (Source: AP Photos, DCC Gray News)