Ivy League Releases Statement Supporting Lia Thomas’ Participation
The Ivy League on Thursday released a statement affirming its support of Penn swimmer Lia Thomas as within league and NCAA rules.
The league statement reads:
Over the past several years, Lia and the University of Pennsylvania have worked with the NCAA to follow all of the appropriate protocols in order to comply with the NCAA policy on transgender athlete participation and compete on the Penn women’s swimming and diving team. The Ivy League has adopted and applies the same NCAA policy.
The Ivy League reaffirms its unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive environment for all student-athletes while condemning transphobia and discrimination in any form.
The league welcomes her participation in the sport of women’s swimming and diving and looks forward to celebrating the success of all of our student-athletes throughout the season.
Penn also took to twitter with a statement regarding Thomas. It’s the first time that the university has addressed Thomas’ situation directly.
Statement regarding our women’s swimmer, Lia Thomas. #FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/lvrnBbfeEr
— Penn Quakers (@pennathletics) January 6, 2022
The Ivy League statement was shared on social media by accounts for most of the Ivy League’s members a decisive show of support by Harvard’s official athletics account.
Harvard Athletics stands with Penn Athletics, and the Ivy League, in the support of all student-athletes and in rejecting hate and transphobia in our community. https://t.co/6Gw0PSHuTu
— Harvard Athletics (@harvardcrimson) January 6, 2022
Thomas competed for three seasons on the men’s team. She has been a member of the women’s team this season and has gained national attention for posting some of the top times in the nation in the women’s distance events. It has sparked discussion (and dissent from within the program) as to the fairness of having Thomas, who was able to reap the physical benefits of a male puberty, swim against women who did not have that opportunity.
The statements by the league and Penn come ahead of Saturday’s schedule Ivy League tri-meet. The Quakers will host Dartmouth and Yale in a meet that, despite sweeping COVID-19 postponements across the country, appears to still be on.
The whole world knows this is not fair. Shame on Penn and the Ivy League for listening to the loudest voices. This is not an issue of hatred toward those of different sexual orientation. This is an issue of over-historical, worked -up, under-informed individuals who are in charge, and not making sense. History will judge this as misguided advocacy on the part of Penn and the Ivy League.
This is about Lia’s gender identity, not her sexual orientation. There is a difference between sexual orientation and gender identity. Educate yourself, because your statement is ignorant.