University of Pennsylvania Bans Transgender Women, Erases Lia Thomas Records

The University of Pennsylvania has agreed to ban transgender athletes from its women’s sports teams and erase records set by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas as part of a resolution to a federal civil rights investigation under Title IX. This settlement follows a probe by the US Department of Education, which found the university violated Title IX by allowing Thomas to compete in women’s competitions during the 2021-2022 season. Thomas, the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division 1 championship, became a central figure in the debate over fairness in women’s sports, with critics citing concerns over physical advantages and privacy issues. The university will issue apologies to female athletes who were disadvantaged and publicly affirm that males will no longer be allowed to compete in female athletic programs or use women’s facilities. This agreement aligns with a February executive order from President Donald Trump banning transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports and withholding federal funding from non-compliant institutions. UPenn President J. Larry Jameson noted that the university follows NCAA and federal policies, which have since been updated to restrict participation to athletes assigned female at birth.