Former NCAA Division I swimmer Paula Scanlan testified before a House Judiciary subcommittee, speaking about her experiences with Lia Thomas as a survivor of sexual assault.
In her opening statement, Scalan said many are unfamiliar with the “experience of the women on the University of Pennsylvania swim team.”
“My teammates and I were forced to undress in the presence of Lia, a 6-foot-4 tall biological male, fully intact with male genitalia 18 times per week,” she described.
“Some girls opted to change in bathroom stalls, and others used the family bathroom to avoid this. When we tried to voice our concerns to the athletic department, we were told that Lia’s swimming and being in our locker room was a non-negotiable, and we were offered psychological services to attempt to re-educate us to become comfortable with the idea of undressing in front of a male,” Scanlan continued.
She stated, “To sum up the university’s response, we the women were the problem, not the victims. We were expected to conform, to move over and shut up. Our feelings didn’t matter.”
Scanlan called the issue the “destruction of free speech.”
“This is representative of a greater issue — the destruction of free speech. Today, any discussion maintaining the sanctity of women’s spaces is labeled transphobic, bigoted, and hateful. What’s bigoted and hateful is discrimination against women and the efforts to erase women and our equal opportunities, dignity, and safe spaces,” she said.
Reporting from Fox News:
An emotional Scanlan also revealed that the situation surrounding Thomas’ involvement went beyond fair competition. For her as a survivor of sexual assault, Thomas’ presence in the locker room created a greater issue. "This is real. I know women who have lost roster spots and spots on the podium. I know of women with sexual trauma who are adversely impacted by having biological males in their locker room without their consent. I know this because I am one of these women," said Scanlan.
