UPenn boots trans men from women’s sports … strips Lia Thomas medals

In a landmark action, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) has agreed to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, strip Lia Thomas of her swimming titles, and restore medals and records to female athletes. This decision, made in conjunction with a federal civil rights resolution, marks a dramatic shift in collegiate athletics — and represents a major victory for President Trump.                                                                                                                                                              

At the center of this decision is Lia Thomas — the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title. Competing in the 2021–2022 season, Thomas shattered several UPenn women’s swimming records and ignited a national debate over fairness, biology, and inclusion. Critics argued that Thomas retained obvious physical advantages from male puberty, while supporters emphasized her compliance with NCAA hormone therapy guidelines and her right to compete as her identified gender.

The Trump administration has made the exclusion of transgender women from female sports a cornerstone of its education and civil rights agenda. The Department of Education launched an investigation into UPenn’s policies and concluded that the university violated Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination, by allowing Thomas to compete in women’s events.

Faced with the threat of losing federal funding, UPenn agreed to a sweeping resolution. The University will now:

• Prohibit transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.
• Restore all Division I swimming records and titles to cisgender female athletes displaced by Thomas.
• Issue personal apology letters to affected athletes.
• Adopt “biology-based” definitions of male and female in athletics.

Among those most directly affected are swimmers Paula Scanlan and Riley Gaines, both of whom competed against Thomas and have since become vocal advocates for single-sex sports. Gaines, in particular, praised the decision as a “historic display of protecting women’s sports,” crediting Trump for the outcome.

This resolution is not just about UPenn—it sets a precedent. It signals that under current federal leadership, institutions may be compelled to align with biology-based definitions of gender or risk severe financial penalties. It also raises profound questions about the future of transgender inclusion in sports, the interpretation of Title IX, and the balance between fairness and civil rights.

Critics argue that this policy targets a vulnerable minority and undermines the progress made toward LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Supporters counter that it restores competitive integrity and protects opportunities for female athletes.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear.  The intersection of sports, identity and politics is no longer a sideline issue.  It is center stage – and fairness and common sense are winning.

So, there ‘tis.

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