NFL
By: Zachary Draves
No matter how hard they try they cannot derail University of Penn swimmer Lia Thomas from competing as her true authentic self.
At a time when over 100+ anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in various states and some of the most aggressive forms of hate is being spread from well-funded grifters and right wing hacks, the fact that Lia Thomas is not only competing as an openly trans woman but is winning should be looked as an inspiration and not a social problem.
Dating back to last December when Lia competed in the University of Akron Zippy Invitational in Ohio and achieved the best times in the 200 and 500-yard freestyle events and ultimately securing a spot in the NCAA championships in Atlanta March 16-19, she has incurred the wrath of some of the loudest voices in the movement against the LGBTQ+ community.
They being the Alliance Defending Freedom, Tucker Carlson, Clay Travis, and other right wing zealots have used all the opportunities afforded to them to delegitimize her accomplishments and to push for policies that would make it impossible if not outright illegal for a woman to compete with other women by relying on outdated gender stereotypes and claiming that they are “championing” women’s sports.
Chances are if you were to ask them who their favorite female athletes are or what women’s team they regularly follow, they would have nothing to say and in the same breath when they trash Trans Women they still trash women’s sports.
The fact is Lia was cleared to compete on the women’s team after going through one year of intensive hormone replacement therapy starting back in 2019 in accordance with NCAA guidelines that states that a transgender female athlete can compete for collegiate women’s sports teams after completing one year of testosterone suppression treatment.
Unfortunately that didn’t stop USA Swimming from instituting a new policy that essentially restricts Lia and other trans athletes ability to compete in elite competitions in the future. https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/governance/governance-lsc-website/rules_policies/usa-swimming-policy-19.pdf
When asked if this will add to more confusion, Trans sports journalist Karleigh Chardonnay Webb of OutSports says:
“Yes it does, at least in the idea that ultimate they have to make ruling for the NCAA in conjunction with the NCAA’s mandates they place on the athlete in regard to the documentation they need and the timing in which it is needed. You have a potential bureaucratic nightmare here. You have a situation where the student-athlete maybe on the ground in Atlanta ready to race at nationals, and then be told ‘You are ineligible. You can’t race. This comes back to a critical question: Where’s does Lia Thomas get any fairness here?”
The NCAA hasn’t shown much consistency during this whole period and while they say they will not enforce USA Swimming’s rules they haven’t given much detail as to what will happen in the future.
In the midst of all this chaos, Lia is remaining vigilant and there has been an increase level of support for her.
Earlier this month, members of the University of Penn women’s swimming and diving team put out a statement in solidarity that read:
“We want to express our full support for Lia in her transition,” they said. “We value her as a person, teammate, and friend. The sentiments put forward by an anonymous member of our team are not representative of the feelings, values, and opinions of the entire Penn team, composed of 39 women with diverse backgrounds.”
It was a good sentiment but Karleigh said it could have been more.
“It sends a mixed signal in one regard. Yes, they spoke out, but I think it would have meant me if those student had made their support fully public and put their names on it” she said.
“You had unnamed ‘anonymous’ sources throwing rocks at Lia Thomas and then hiding. Lia Thomas has nowhere to hide, period. I think it was good for some teammates to make a statement of support, but I would have liked them to be public and open and put their names behind it. If you believe it, put your name on it.”
Also a letter to the NCAA from Athlete Ally and fellow NCAA swimmer and trans advocate Schuyler Bailar was signed by over 300+ swimmers at the collegiate and Olympic level that supported Lia and all trans and non-binary athletes http://www.athleteally.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Letter-to-NCAA-in-Support-of-Lia-Thomas-Feb-10-2022-2.pdf.
It is also helps to have media such as Karleigh, ESPN’s Katie Barnes, and Forbes Magazines’ Dawn Ennis speaking truth to power on this and other related matters.
We also need to hear the voices of Trans allies in sports media calling attention and dispelling the various myths that are pervading the airwaves and digital super highway.
In addition, Karleigh offers basic level suggestions aimed at coaches, athletic directors, and policymakers when working with the trans community.
“For me it begins with them being mindful of what disabled activists say: NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US” she said.
“Stop degrading and dehumanizing transgender people and start talking with transgender people. How can you claim to build policy to address our concerns without addressing us? That won’t work.”
Currently, Lia along with fellow trans swimmer Iszac Henig of Yale are competing at the Ivy League women’s swimming and diving championships at Harvard Feb.16-19 and are expected to do amazing things with so many looking on.
Against the backdrop of tremendous visibility and a vicious backlash towards equality, their presence in the pool is not only inspiring but offer a profound example of hope that can help to save lives.
In the end, Lia Thomas, trans athletes, and trans people period are not to erased.
Mr Draves,
I take great exception to your comments in the article.”At a time when over 100+ anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in various states and some of the most aggressive forms of hate is being spread from well-funded grifters and right wing hacks,”
I ask you , are “right wing hacks” the only people who think that Lia competing in unfair.
I have raised 4 children, supported them financially, physically and emotionally though many sports.
I am neither right wing, nor left.
I think your comments are prejudice.
I am sure if you talk to the girls who spent their whole life preparing for the NCAA competition, you will find that the fact that a person born of xy being allowed to compete as an xx is the greatest insult to them.
It has nothing to do with politics, unless you make it so.
Anger over this issue transcends all. The issue is biology, plain and simple.