Penn pledges to work with NCAA, support transgender swimmer
Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas is shown during the playing of the national anthem before a swim meet, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Philadelphia. The NCAA has adopted a sport-by-sport approach for transgender athletes, bringing the organization in line with the U.S. and International Olympic Committees. NCAA rules on transgender athletes returned to the forefront when Penn swimmer Lia Thomas started smashing records this year.(AP Photo/Chris Szagola) | Photo: AP
January 20, 2022
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The University of Pennsylvania said it will work with the NCAA under its newly adopted standards for transgender athletes.
Swimmer Lia Thomas, who competed for the men's team at Penn before transitioning, has qualified to compete in March at the 2022 NCAA swimming and diving championships. She is set to race in the women's 200-yard, 500-yard and 1,650-yard freestyle.
"Penn Athletics is aware of the NCAA's new transgender participation policy," the Ivy League school said Thursday in a statement. "In support of our student-athlete, Lia Thomas, we will work with the NCAA regarding her participation under the newly adopted standards for the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship."
Under the new guidelines, approved by the NCAA Board of Governors on Wednesday, transgender participation for each sport will be determined by the policy for the sport's national governing body, subject to review and recommendation by an NCAA committee to the Board of Governors.
When there is no national governing body, that sport's international federation policy would be in place. If there is no international federation policy, previously established IOC policy criteria would take over.
"Approximately 80% of U.S. Olympians are either current or former college athletes," NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement announcing the guidelines. "This policy alignment provides consistency and further strengthens the relationship between college sports and the U.S. Olympics."
The NCAA policy is effective immediately, beginning with the 2022 winter championships. Penn did not immediately respond to requests for comment on how the policy would affect Thomas.
NCAA rules on transgender athletes returned to the forefront when Thomas started smashing records this year. She was on the men's team her first three years, but after transitioning she moved to the women's team.
The Board of Governors is suggesting NCAA divisions allow for additional eligibility if a transgender student-athlete loses eligibility based on the policy change. That flexibility is provided they meet the NCAA's new guidelines.
January 20, 2022
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The University of Pennsylvania said it will work with the NCAA under its newly adopted standards for transgender athletes.
Swimmer Lia Thomas, who competed for the men's team at Penn before transitioning, has qualified to compete in March at the 2022 NCAA swimming and diving championships. She is set to race in the women's 200-yard, 500-yard and 1,650-yard freestyle.
"Penn Athletics is aware of the NCAA's new transgender participation policy," the Ivy League school said Thursday in a statement. "In support of our student-athlete, Lia Thomas, we will work with the NCAA regarding her participation under the newly adopted standards for the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship."
Under the new guidelines, approved by the NCAA Board of Governors on Wednesday, transgender participation for each sport will be determined by the policy for the sport's national governing body, subject to review and recommendation by an NCAA committee to the Board of Governors.
When there is no national governing body, that sport's international federation policy would be in place. If there is no international federation policy, previously established IOC policy criteria would take over.
"Approximately 80% of U.S. Olympians are either current or former college athletes," NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement announcing the guidelines. "This policy alignment provides consistency and further strengthens the relationship between college sports and the U.S. Olympics."
The NCAA policy is effective immediately, beginning with the 2022 winter championships. Penn did not immediately respond to requests for comment on how the policy would affect Thomas.
NCAA rules on transgender athletes returned to the forefront when Thomas started smashing records this year. She was on the men's team her first three years, but after transitioning she moved to the women's team.
The Board of Governors is suggesting NCAA divisions allow for additional eligibility if a transgender student-athlete loses eligibility based on the policy change. That flexibility is provided they meet the NCAA's new guidelines.
SEXIST LAW WHAT ABOUT TRANSBOYS
Indiana Looks to Become Tenth State to Restrict Transgender Girls in School Sports
BY AYUMI DAVIS ON 1/20/22
An Indiana bill that would prohibit transgender women and girls from female school sports teams will be considered by the House education committee.
The proposal, House Bill 1041, bans those listed as biologically male at birth from participating in a female athletic team or sport. It would require grievance procedures for violations to be established at school corporations, public schools, certain private schools, state educational institutions, certain private colleges and universities, and certain athletic associations, according to the proposal.
The proposal also allows for civil action should someone violate the provisions and schools would not be subject to liabilities for complying with it.
The House education committee is scheduled to hear the bill, authored by Republican Rep. Michelle Davis of Greenwood, on Monday, committee chair Rep. Bob Behning of Indianapolis said Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.
Behning said the proposal "deserves discussion," AP reported. He noted that a "majority of House Republicans support the bill."
"It's just, how do we make sure that we're ... playing fairly in terms of athletics," Behning said, according to AP.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana released a statement Thursday on their website in opposition to the bill. The statement says the bill singles out transgender kids by banning them from participating in sports, "sending them the message that they are not worthy of the same kinds of opportunities as their classmates."
"Transgender people have the right to participate in sports consistent with who they are, just like anyone else," the ACLU of Indiana says in the statement. "Denying this right is unconstitutional and blatant discrimination."
The ACLU of Indiana urges lawmakers to "stop these attacks" on transgender children, according to the statement.
The Indiana proposal banning transgender girls from female school sports teams would also allow for civil action should someone violate the provisions and schools would not be subject to liabilities for complying with it.
Indiana Looks to Become Tenth State to Restrict Transgender Girls in School Sports
BY AYUMI DAVIS ON 1/20/22
An Indiana bill that would prohibit transgender women and girls from female school sports teams will be considered by the House education committee.
The proposal, House Bill 1041, bans those listed as biologically male at birth from participating in a female athletic team or sport. It would require grievance procedures for violations to be established at school corporations, public schools, certain private schools, state educational institutions, certain private colleges and universities, and certain athletic associations, according to the proposal.
The proposal also allows for civil action should someone violate the provisions and schools would not be subject to liabilities for complying with it.
The House education committee is scheduled to hear the bill, authored by Republican Rep. Michelle Davis of Greenwood, on Monday, committee chair Rep. Bob Behning of Indianapolis said Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.
Behning said the proposal "deserves discussion," AP reported. He noted that a "majority of House Republicans support the bill."
"It's just, how do we make sure that we're ... playing fairly in terms of athletics," Behning said, according to AP.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana released a statement Thursday on their website in opposition to the bill. The statement says the bill singles out transgender kids by banning them from participating in sports, "sending them the message that they are not worthy of the same kinds of opportunities as their classmates."
"Transgender people have the right to participate in sports consistent with who they are, just like anyone else," the ACLU of Indiana says in the statement. "Denying this right is unconstitutional and blatant discrimination."
The ACLU of Indiana urges lawmakers to "stop these attacks" on transgender children, according to the statement.
The Indiana proposal banning transgender girls from female school sports teams would also allow for civil action should someone violate the provisions and schools would not be subject to liabilities for complying with it.
If the bill were to pass, Indiana would become the 10th state to ban transgender athletes from school sports. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Texas all have laws prohibiting transgender athletes from school sports, according to The New York Times. However, federal judges have halted the laws in West Virginia and Idaho, AP reported. The U.S. Department of Justice has also challenged bans in other states.
Several other bills exist in the Indiana Legislature regarding limitations on transgender people. House Bill 1399 would prohibit people from changing the gender on their birth certificate and the permanent record made from it. House Bill 1348 would make it a misdemeanor for people to enter restrooms not aligning with the biological gender.
Senate Bill 402 would change Indiana law to say that identifying a child by their biological sex is not child abuse or neglect. There is also another bill authored by Davis, House Bill 1121, that would mandate health care professionals report certain information involving gender transitioning to the state health department, which would then compile the data annually into a report for the general assembly.
"Even introducing these bills, even bringing these bills up, and then contributing to that sense that trans people have, that their own communities are attacking them and trying to ostracize them, that has a very negative and frightening effect on youth," Kit Malone, an advocacy strategist for the ACLU of Indiana, said, according to The Indianapolis Star, "and we see it every year."
Several other bills exist in the Indiana Legislature regarding limitations on transgender people. House Bill 1399 would prohibit people from changing the gender on their birth certificate and the permanent record made from it. House Bill 1348 would make it a misdemeanor for people to enter restrooms not aligning with the biological gender.
Senate Bill 402 would change Indiana law to say that identifying a child by their biological sex is not child abuse or neglect. There is also another bill authored by Davis, House Bill 1121, that would mandate health care professionals report certain information involving gender transitioning to the state health department, which would then compile the data annually into a report for the general assembly.
"Even introducing these bills, even bringing these bills up, and then contributing to that sense that trans people have, that their own communities are attacking them and trying to ostracize them, that has a very negative and frightening effect on youth," Kit Malone, an advocacy strategist for the ACLU of Indiana, said, according to The Indianapolis Star, "and we see it every year."
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