University of Pennsylvania (Penn) was considered to be at the forefront of transgender inclusivity when it allowed trans swimmer Lia Thomas to compete on its women’s swimming team in 2021. However, the university has now crumbled under Donald Trump’s pressure and decided to comply with his anti-trans agenda.
Trans Athletes Are No Longer Welcomed at Penn
One of Trump’s first moves in the office was to sign an executive order to ban trans athletes from competing in women’s sports. Shortly after, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) launched an investigation into Penn’s policy on transgender athletes. The Trump administration also paused $175 million in federal funding to the university due to perceived violations of Title IX, which bans sex discrimination in schools.
Instead of putting up a fight, Penn struck a deal with ED and Trump’s administration. It will no longer welcome trans athletes on its sports teams. DE Secretary Linda McMahon said that the university agreed to “completely rewrite” its institutional policy and take “steps with records and reporting so this never happens again.” Penn President J. Larry Jameson called it a “complex issue” and said that the university’s “commitment to ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment for all of our students is unwavering.”
Penn Erases Lia Thomas
Aside from adjusting its policy, Penn took steps to completely walk back on its previous support for trans athletes. The university erased Lia Thomas’ records in 100m, 200m, and 500m freestyle and has already updated its official website. It is stated at the bottom of the document that Thomas set different program records “under eligibility rules in effect at the time.” Thomas last competed during the 2021-22 season when she won the NCAA Division I title.
As part of the agreement, Penn will send personalized letters to female swimmers who were “affected” by Thomas’ participation in events. This includes individuals who lost their titles and records to Thomas. It also committed to adopting a “biology-based” definition of sex and “will not allow males to compete in female athletic programs.”
Trans Rights Dealt Another Blow
Trump’s administration remains set on marginalizing the trans community at every opportunity it gets. Penn’s decision is just one of many blows that were dealt to trans rights in recent months. This puts the U.S. in jeopardy of erasing all the progress it made and becoming just as closed-minded as the countries it previously criticized for violations of human rights.
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