Trump administration demands Penn restore accolades to female swimmers after allowing trans swimmer to compete

[SouthBayDem]

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

The University of Pennsylvania violated federal civil rights law by allowing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to compete on its women’s team during the 2021-22 season and use the female facilities, the U.S. Department of Education said Monday.

The department has ordered Penn to “restore to all female athletes all individual athletic records, titles, honors, awards or similar recognition for Division I swimming competitions misappropriated by male athletes” or risk the loss of federal funding.

President Donald Trump’s administration has already paused $175 million in funding to Penn because of Thomas’ participation. The university had said it previously had not received any demands to get funding restored.

But it looks like that may have changed. In addition to restoring the records, the education department in its communication Monday listed two other requirements: the school must issue a statement to the Penn community that it will comply with Title IX and send a letter of apology to each swimmer whose record is restored “for allowing her educational experience in athletics to be marred by sex discrimination.”

Read more: https://www.inquirer.com/education/lia-thomas-upenn-violate-law-transgender-20250428.html

---

This appears theatric to me, because at the time Thomas was on the team, the feds included gender identity under Title IX. The Constitution says: "No...ex post facto Law shall be passed." (That's in context of Congress, but would this not fall under the executive branch too?)

[Pisces]

1. He's doing this because the trans issue was the only metric he was polling over 50%

[Initech]

3. I swear Elon Musk created the "no trans women in women's sports" issue.

And got Alex Jones and Tucker Carlson to repeat it.

[SouthBayDem]

6. The baby daddy has a vendetta

over one of his kids being trans and cutting off contact with him.

[fujiyamasan]

7. He's underwater on all major issues now

Including immigration. Tariffs likely destroyed his “strength” on the economy for perhaps his entire term.

The trans issue is easy to whip up.

[Initech]

2. God he's such a petty piece of shit.

[AZJonnie]

4. I don't like 'expect' anyone to do so, but it would awesome if all the other athletes said "We Don't Want It"

I mean I'm sure there's someone who raised a stink about it (I don't know the details) but the best outcome would be had by letting that person stand alone and get her 'accolades' while everyone else involved says "No Thanks, Asshole!" in a very public way.

[marble falls]

5. Wouldn't it be much more awesome if people put the "importance" of amateur sports into perspective? ...

... as a straight, cis male I find your view highly offensive and insensitive.

[AZJonnie]

8. You're talking about what everyone collectively can do, and I completely agree with that point as well!

Last edited Tue Apr 29, 2025, 03:39 AM - Edit history (3)

Edit: It dawned on me that maybe I totally failed to express what I was meaning to say. The headline reads: " (Trump) demands Penn restore accolades to female swimmers after allowing trans swimmer to compete". What I'm saying is, it would be cool IMHO, if the cis-female swimmers who's 'accolades' would be 'restored' were to collectively and publicly say "No, we don't want our 'accolades restored', we don't want any trans athlete to be stripped of her placements/trophies/medals, we think she (or they) is/are female, and our competition with them was fair! What Trump is asking for, and his threats against the university, are bullshit, and we do not want any of this done in our name!!!".

And if there's a Riley Gaines in the bunch, then let her stand alone.

By this, I didn't mean that's ALL that should happen in the way of change! Sorry if I was lame in my expression of that idea previously, and if it's STILL offensive as an idea now that I've hopefully elucidated it better, then please help me understand because I must be missing something

[TheRickles]

10. I'm pretty sure Thomas' teammates at Penn turned against her.

At least 3 filed suit against Penn: https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/lia-thomas-transgender-athleters-penn-lawsuit-grace-estabrook-margot-kaczorowski/

[AZJonnie]

11. I didn't know that, sorry, that is a bummer!

Well, maybe now even these young women will change their tune due to these heavy-handed tactics by Trump against their alma mater, basically threatening the education of all their fellow students. If it were me (though I'd never file suit in the first place!) this piece would change the equation in my mind, hope it does for them as well.

[SunSeeker]

9. Republicans are obsessed with Lia Thomas. She's not in college anymore!

And this won't bring the price of groceries down.