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Angry Parents Pen Letter Demanding Rule Changes After Trans Swimmer Shatters Records

Angry Parents Pen Letter Demanding Rule Changes After Trans Swimmer Shatters Records

The parents of UPenn swimmers have now written a letter of demand urging the NCAA to change its rules allowing trans eligibility.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

A bunch of angry parents have demanded that transgender swimmer Lia Thomas be banned from competing in women's events, warning that the current set of rules are a "direct threat to female athletes in every sport".

In fact, the New York Post is reporting that the parents are also arguing that their kids aren't the only victims, with Thomas herself also suffering after coming under heavy scrutiny.

Lia Thomas, formerly Will Thomas.
UPenn

According to The Daily Mail, a number of parents of UPenn swimmers have come forward and voiced their concerns after Thomas recently shattered multiple US women's records in the pool.

When news of Thomas' record-breaking performances broke, huge debate was sparked as to whether she should be eligible to swim against women.

Some of those who were left fuming were the parents of Thomas' opponents, who have now sent a letter of demand to America's National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), urging the sporting body to alter its rules

"At stake here is the integrity of women's sports," the parents wrote in the letter.

Instagram

"The precedent being set - one in which women do not have a protected and equitable space to compete - is a direct threat to female athletes in every sport.

"What are the boundaries? How is this in line with the NCAA's commitment to providing a fair environment for student-athletes?

"It is the responsibility of the NCAA to address the matter with an official statement. As the governing body, it is unfair and irresponsible to leave the onus on Lia, Lia's teammates, Lia's coaches, UPenn athletics and the Ivy League. And it is unfair and irresponsible to Lia to allow the media to dictate the narrative without the participation of the NCAA."

Under the current regulations, trans athletes like Thomas - who has competed against men all her life prior to her transition in 2019 - are eligible to race against girls her age.

One parent told The Daily Mail: "The swimmers have mixed feelings. Many of them want to speak up, but they don't because they believe they'll be ostracized.

"Everybody is scared. Parents are also scared that the kids will be harmed. We are paying $80,000 for this school. Their life will be impacted."

While another added: "I think that transgender people have a right to compete, but they need to have their own league. Being fair to one group of people shouldn't take rights away from another group, and that's what's happening here.

"The NCAA obviously didn't think much about the rules they set. It's not fair to the women on the team and it's not fair to Lia as well. She went through transition, and I admire her bravery. But the records she sets now are not valued records, female records."

Featured Image Credit: OutKick/Instagram

Topics: transgender athletes, Trans, swimming, Australia, transgender, Lia Thomas