Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Paula Scanlan has become a vocal advocate for women’s rights in sports, sharing her personal experiences of sharing a locker room with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.

Scanlan’s testimony sheds light on the challenges and discomfort faced by female athletes when policies allow transgender women to compete in women’s sports and use women’s facilities.

In 2021, Lia Thomas, a transgender woman, began competing on the University of Pennsylvania’s women’s swim team after transitioning from the men’s team.

Thomas’ participation sparked national debates about fairness and inclusion in women’s sports.

As the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship, Thomas’ success highlighted the complexities of balancing inclusivity with competitive fairness.

Scanlan, who was a member of the women’s swim team during Thomas’ tenure, has publicly discussed the discomfort and challenges she and her teammates faced in the shared locker room.

She revealed that female athletes were forced to undress in the presence of Thomas, a 6-foot-4 biological male with fully intact male genitalia, up to 18 times per week.

Some teammates chose to change in bathroom stalls or the family bathroom to avoid this situation.

When the team expressed concerns to the university’s athletic department, their complaints were dismissed.

Scanlan stated that the university labeled them as the “problem” and offered psychological services to “re-educate” them into becoming comfortable with the situation .

She described the administration’s response as gaslighting, prioritizing the feelings of transgender athletes over the rights and comfort of female athletes.

As a survivor of sexual assault, Scanlan found the situation particularly traumatic.

She shared that the experience led to nightmares and heightened anxiety, especially when she was forced to undress in front of someone with male genitalia.

Scanlan emphasized that her concerns were not about transphobia but about personal safety and privacy.

Despite the backlash and accusations of transphobia, Scanlan remains steadfast in her belief that women’s spaces should be protected and that policies should consider the rights and comfort of all athletes.

In response to her experiences, Scanlan has become an advocate for women’s rights in sports.

She testified before Congress, highlighting the need for policies that protect female athletes’ rights to single-sex spaces.

Scanlan supports legislative efforts to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports, arguing that such measures are essential to ensure fairness and safety for female athletes.

Scanlan’s story is part of a larger national debate about the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

While advocates for transgender rights emphasize inclusivity, many female athletes and their supporters argue that policies should also consider the physical advantages that may come from male puberty and the importance of maintaining fair competition.

The controversy has led to legal challenges and policy changes in various states and sports organizations, reflecting the complex balance between inclusivity and fairness in athletics.