"Female Swimmer's Revelation: Forced to Share Locker Room with Male Who Has Not Undergone Gender Reassignment Surgery"

Controversy Over Transgender Athlete Lia Thomas Expands
Teammate "Expressed Discomfort but Was Ignored"

As cases of transgender individuals who have transitioned from male to female setting new records in women's sports competitions are occurring in various places, controversy surrounding transgender swimmer Lia Thomas is growing.

According to reports from Fox News and others on the 27th (local time), Paula Scanlan, a former member of the University of Pennsylvania women's swimming team and currently a spokesperson for the Independent Women's Forum, testified that she is a "sexual assault survivor" at a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on "gender-affirming care for minors" held that day.

Controversy is growing surrounding transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.
[Photo by AP·Yonhap News]

Scanlan stated, "College officials ignored the protests of team members and allowed Thomas to join the team," adding, "We also said it was non-negotiable to share the locker room with Thomas."

Thomas competed as a swimmer on the men's team from 2017 and transferred to the women's team in 2021. He is a transgender individual undergoing hormone therapy but is reported to be a biological male who has not undergone sex reassignment surgery.

Scanlan said, "My teammates and I were forced to undress in front of Thomas, a biological male standing 6 feet 4 inches (about 193 cm) tall with intact male genitalia, as many as 18 times a week," adding, "Some female students changed clothes behind bathroom stalls, and some used family restrooms."

She continued, "When we expressed concerns to the school, they instead provided psychological services aimed at re-educating us to feel comfortable undressing in front of a male."

Scanlan also criticized Thomas for sweeping awards in various women's competitions with a biological male body.

She said, "Thomas was ranked within the top 500 nationally as a male athlete but became an NCAA champion in women's competitions," adding, "Women lost their place on the podium."

World Aquatics to Create Separate Competition for Transgender Athletes

Paula Scanlon, a former member of the University of Pennsylvania women's swimming team, is speaking at the House Judiciary Subcommittee.
[Photo by U.S. House Judiciary Committee Republican Twitter]

As Lia Thomas swept victories in various women's swimming competitions, the swimming community is taking drastic measures such as creating separate categories for transgender athletes.

According to the Christian Post (CP) on the 25th (local time), World Aquatics held its regular general meeting in Fukuoka, Japan, where the World Swimming Championships are taking place, and announced the formation of a committee to establish an "open" category for transgender athletes.

Hussain Al-Musallam, WA President, stated, "We must protect fair competition for female athletes while also safeguarding the rights of all athletes," adding, "My belief is that there should be no discrimination."

He said, "No one should be excluded from our competitions. The establishment of an 'open' category means that World Aquatics welcomes all athletes and ensures everyone has the opportunity to compete in championships."

He continued, "We are forming the new committee, but it is a very complex process and will take time. We will share plans for separate competitions for transgender athletes as they become concrete," emphasizing, "Our sport should be for everyone."

This decision by WA comes one year after implementing a policy banning athletes who underwent sex reassignment surgery after age 12 from competing in women's events.

Seven out of Ten Americans Oppose Transgender Participation in Women's Sports

Nanhae On March 17, transgender athlete Lia Thomas won the women's 500-yard freestyle swimming event at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) [Photo by AP·Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the majority of Americans have expressed strong opposition to transgender women competing in women's sports.

According to foreign media including NBC News, Gallup, a U.S. polling organization, surveyed 1,011 adults last month on their views regarding "transgender women participating in women's sports and gender-affirming hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery to appear as the opposite sex."

When asked, "Do you support transgender athletes competing in sports that align with their gender identity?" about 70% of respondents answered, "No. They should compete with athletes matching their biological sex." This means seven out of ten Americans oppose transgender athletes participating in women's sports.

On the other hand, only 26% said they support transgender athletes competing with female athletes.

This survey comes amid legislative movements to enact laws requiring transgender-identified athletes to compete according to their "biological sex." Currently, such laws are enforced in 24 states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah.