Female Swimmers Forced to see 6′4″ Trans Womans Genitalia 18+ Times a Week, Any Who Dared to Complain Told to Get “Reeducated”

Former colleagues and teammates of Lia Thomas, a successful transgender swimmer, have come forward expressing their discomfort with having to change and undress next to her on a regular basis, approximately "18 times a week."

The issue of transgender participation in women's sports has become a highly contentious topic in America's ongoing culture wars, and this debate has not only remained confined to the pool but has also extended into the locker room.

During a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, Paula Scanlan, who used to be Thomas' teammate and is a former NCAA Division I swimmer, spoke up, informing lawmakers that their complaints regarding the situation were not taken seriously or addressed adequately.

Scanlan emphasized that she and her teammates were put in a challenging situation, having to undress in the presence of Lia Thomas, who stands at 6 feet 4 inches tall and has fully intact male genitalia. The frequency of this situation occurred around 18 times each week, contributing to their feelings of discomfort and concern.

“Some girls opted to change in bathroom stalls and others used the family bathroom to avoid this.”

When the teammates raised their concerns about the situation to the university, Paula Scanlan explains that instead of addressing the discomfort they felt about undressing in front of a male, they were offered counseling with the aim of "reeducating" them. The university's intention seemed to be focused on making the female teammates "comfortable with the idea of undressing in front of a male."

Speaking at the committee meeting titled "The Dangers and Due Process Violations of Gender-Affirming Care," Scanlan conveyed the essence of the university's response. According to her, the university placed the blame on the female swimmers, portraying them as the problem rather than acknowledging their valid concerns and experiences as victims in the situation.

“We were expected to conform, to move over and shut up. Our feelings didn't matter. The university was gaslighting and fear-mongering women to validate the feelings and identity of a male.”

Before 2019, Lia Thomas had been a member of the male swimming team. In 2019 the transitioning process began, and in 2021, they became a part of the female swimming team. During the 2018-2019 season, when Lia Thomas was competing as a member of the men's team, their rankings were as follows: 554th in the 200 freestyle, 65th in the 500 freestyle, and 32nd in the 1650 freestyle

Gaines, a highly accomplished swimmer with 12 All-American titles and five SEC championships, shared her feelings of discomfort after encountering Lia Thomas's male genitalia in the locker room following a meet.

According to Gaines, there was no prior warning or consent given about sharing the locker room with Lia Thomas. The swimmers were taken by surprise when they turned around and found a 6'4" biological man (referring to Thomas) dropping his pants and observing them as they undressed, exposing them to male genitalia.

Gaines further pointed out that not long ago, this situation would likely have been viewed as a form of sexual assault or voyeurism. The implication is that the changing norms and considerations around gender and inclusion have led to this scenario being approached differently today.

Liberals are expected to either not comment on the situation entirely, or to defend it, despite the implications being that they would be accepting of a scenario in which they’d force women to see male genitalia over 18 times a week that they didn’t consent to.