Infamous transgender college swimmer Lia Thomas recently criticized Iowa’s law banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, claiming it sends a message that trans kids “don’t deserve to participate.”
Thomas made these comments during a panel discussion at Iowa State University, hosted by the event “Trans Athletes and the Future of Sports.”
The law, which was signed into effect in 2022 by Iowa’s Republican Governor Kim Reynolds, has been a point of contention in the ongoing debate over transgender athletes in sports.
Thomas, who made headlines after joining the University of Pennsylvania’s women’s swim team after transitioning, faced significant scrutiny for competing in women’s events despite having been a male swimmer prior to his transition.
During the panel, Thomas expressed strong opposition to the law, falsely claiming it excludes transgender kids from sports participation.
“With the ban here in Iowa … the state is actively saying to trans kids, ‘You don’t deserve to participate. You are actually being excluded,’” Thomas stated.
However, the law does not prevent transgender children from participating in sports altogether.
It specifically prohibits males who identify as females from competing in girls’ sports.
Transgender athletes still have the right to participate in sports that correspond to their biological sex, and the law does not deny them access to these activities.
Thomas further emphasized the importance of sports in a child’s development, describing athletics as a vital part of his own education. “I had a team, a group I could identify with… it gave me that belonging,” Thomas said. “Athletics and, for me, the water was just … a place of peace where I could leave my worries outside.”
Keenan Crow, the Policy and Advocacy Director for One Iowa, echoed Thomas’s sentiments, similarly claiming that the law denies trans athletes the opportunity to participate in a crucial aspect of life that fosters resilience and community.
“Excluding trans athletes from sports denies them the chance to participate in a part of life that teaches resilience, teamwork, and community,” Crow said. “There’s value in just being on a team and being included, especially for young people who might be struggling to find acceptance.”
However, the discussion around transgender athletes in women’s sports has sparked significant backlash, particularly among female athletes who feel their rights and safety are being undermined.
One notable critic is former swimmer Paula Scanlan, who was on the University of Pennsylvania swim team alongside Thomas.
Scanlan shared her concerns about the impact of having male-born athletes in women’s sports spaces, particularly in locker rooms.
This is real. I know women who have lost roster spots and spots on the podium. I know of women with sexual trauma who are adversely impacted by having biological males in their locker room without their consent. I know this because I am one of these women,” Scanlan said.
Scanlan also revealed her personal experience as a survivor of sexual assault, highlighting how policies allowing transgender athletes in women’s spaces can negatively affect women, especially those who have experienced trauma.
“I was sexually assaulted on June 3rd of 2016. I was only 16 years old. I was able to forgive my attacker, but violence against women still exists. Let us not forget the viral #MeToo movement that empowered female victims to speak up. It casts a spotlight on the widespread prevalence of sexual assault and abuse, including in scholarly and educational institutions,” Scanlan added.
Resistance to the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports continues to grow, with several high school and college teams taking action.
Recently, a girls’ volleyball team at a Christian school in Merced, California, forfeited a match rather than compete against a transgender athlete.
College teams have also taken a stand, with a lawsuit filed against San Jose State University and the Mountain West Conference for allowing a male player to join the women’s volleyball team.
Additionally, five colleges have refused to play against San Jose State due to its inclusion of transgender player Blair Fleming.
In the broader context, several groups are now suing the NCAA over its policy of permitting transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports, while the Olympic community is also facing internal debates over the issue.
A new candidate for president of the International Olympic Committee has promised to push for a ban on men competing in women’s events.
The ongoing debate surrounding transgender athletes in women’s sports continues to intensify as various groups, including athletes, schools, and governing bodies, weigh in on the complex issue.
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