University of Pennsylvania Found in Violation of Title IX Over Transgender Swimmer Controversy
UPenn faces federal consequences for allowing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to compete, with 10 days to comply with Title IX mandates or risk prosecution.
Overview
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights found the University of Pennsylvania violated Title IX by permitting transgender swimmer Lia Thomas on the women's team. Federal action demands compliance within 10 days, including restoring female athletes' records and issuing apologies. The Trump administration suspended $175 million in federal funding over this decision, amid rising scrutiny of policies surrounding transgender athletes in women's sports. Supporters of the ruling express hope for accountability, while UPenn has historically defended its adherence to NCAA guidelines regarding transgender athletes.
Content generated by AI—learn more or report issue.
Get both sides in 5 minutes with our daily newsletter.
Analysis
- The U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights found that the University of Pennsylvania violated Title IX by allowing a transgender swimmer, Lia Thomas, to compete on the women's team, which they argue denied women equal opportunities.
- The Trump administration's demand for UPenn to comply includes stripping any awards from Thomas and issuing apologies to affected female athletes, framing the situation as a matter of protecting women’s rights in sports.
- The NCAA's policies have been a point of contention, with claims that the regulations around transgender athletes are evolving in response to political pressures and could jeopardize institutions' federal funding.
Articles (8)
Center (2)
No highlight available for this article.
NBC News·2M·No highlight available for this article.
Associated Press·2M·FAQ
Penn risks referral to the Department of Justice for enforcement proceedings and potential loss of federal funding if it does not comply with the Title IX mandates.
The DOE demands Penn revoke any awards or records held by Lia Thomas in Division I swimming and issue apologies to affected female swimmers.
Penn stated it followed NCAA and Ivy League policies regarding transgender athlete participation at the time Thomas competed.
The Trump administration implemented executive orders banning transgender women from women's sports and declared a binary gender framework, which informed OCR's enforcement priorities.
No, the DOE's statement did not explicitly name Lia Thomas, though the investigation specifically focused on her case.
History
- 2M
4 articles