The University of Pennsylvania has reached an agreement to ban transgender athletes, effectively concluding a civil rights case initiated by swimmer Lia Thomas. This decision follows an investigation by the Department of Education, which found violations of Title IX, the federal law ensuring equal opportunities for women in athletics. Under the agreement, the University will take several actions, including restoring records and titles previously held by female athletes that were allegedly affected by male athletes competing in women’s events.
Penn will also publicly affirm its commitment to compliance with Title IX, stating it will not permit males to participate in female sports programs. Additionally, the University is set to apologize to those female swimmers impacted by the situation. In a public statement, Penn reiterated its compliance with Title IX as interpreted by the Department of Education and emphasized that its athletics facilities will be allocated based on biological sex.
This statement appears to serve as the required public acknowledgment for the resolution agreement. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon remarked that the agreement signifies a victory for women’s sports and commended the University for addressing past grievances against female athletes. Prior to this resolution, the Trump administration had indicated that Penn was violating Title IX by permitting Thomas to compete on the women’s swim team.
Lia Thomas, a notable figure in Division I women’s swimming during the 2022 NCAA season, had achieved significant successes after transitioning in 2019 from the men’s team. The University acknowledged that while it complied with NCAA regulations at the time, it recognized the disadvantages some student-athletes faced under those policies. In response to this agreement, Philadelphia councilmembers and state representatives expressed disappointment, condemning the University for capitulating to political pressure and asserting that this decision undermines the rights of transgender athletes.
They argue that the actions taken are politically motivated rather than rooted in promoting equity in sports.