Former NCAA Division 1 swimmer Paula Scanlan, who was a member of the University of Pennsylvania’s women’s team together with trans swimmer Lia Thomas, testified ahead of a Household Judiciary subcommittee on Thursday early morning wherever she spoke out about her practical experience and uncovered the effects Thomas’ existence in the locker area had on her as a survivor of sexual assault. 

Scanlan, who now serves as a spokesperson and adviser for the Unbiased Women’s Forum, testified just before lawmakers all through a hearing on "gender-affirming care for minors."

Previous NCAA Division 1 swimmer Paula Scanlan testifies before the Property Judiciary Subcommittee on the Structure and Limited Federal government on Thursday, July 27. (C-SPAN)

As a member of UPenn’s women’s swimming team, Scanlan advised that university officials disregarded the concerns of the associates on the staff and instructed them that Thomas’ becoming on it was "non-negotiable." 

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"After the season began, Thomas was leading the nation in many gatherings, while only positioning in the leading 500 in those people situations on the men's workforce. Thomas later on grew to become an NCAA winner in the 500-yard freestyle – the first NCAA champion in our women's crew historical past method. Whilst a lot of of you currently know this, what you do not know is the experience of the gals on the University of Pennsylvania swim team," Scanlan mentioned through her opening assertion. 

"My teammates and I were forced to undress in the existence of Lia, a 6-foot-4 tall organic male, absolutely intact with male genitalia 18 periods for every week. Some girls opted to modify in bathroom stalls, and other individuals used the spouse and children toilet to keep away from this. When we tried to voice our problems to the athletic office, we were being told that Lia’s swimming and becoming in our locker room was a non-negotiable, and we were being offered psychological companies to endeavor to re-teach us to turn into cozy with the idea of undressing in front of a male."

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas and Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines tied for fifth in the 200-freestyle finals at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on March 18, 2022, in Atlanta. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)

"To sum up the university's reaction, we the women have been the difficulty, not the victims. We had been predicted to conform, to shift above and shut up. Our emotions failed to matter."

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Scanlan spoke about an op-ed she penned for the university student paper that reviewed the scientific distinctions involving organic male and females only to discover out hours immediately after its publication, it was retracted without having her knowledge. 

"This is consultant of a greater difficulty – the destruction of cost-free speech. These days, any dialogue retaining the sanctity of women's spaces is labeled transphobic, bigoted and hateful. What's bigoted and hateful is discrimination versus women of all ages and the efforts to erase women of all ages and our equal opportunities, dignity and protected spaces."

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas enters for the 200-freestyle ultimate all through the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on March 18, 2022, in Atlanta. (Loaded von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)

An psychological Scanlan also disclosed that the condition bordering Thomas’ involvement went past reasonable competition. For her as a survivor of sexual assault, Thomas’ existence in the locker room established a greater concern. 

"This is serious. I know girls who have lost roster places and spots on the podium. I know of girls with sexual trauma who are adversely impacted by possessing biological males in their locker home without their consent. I know this due to the fact I am 1 of these women."

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"I was sexually assaulted on June 3rd of 2016. I was only 16 a long time outdated. I was in a position to forgive my attacker but violence against girls nonetheless exists. Let us not overlook the viral MeToo movement that empowered feminine victims to communicate up. It casts a spotlight on the widespread prevalence of sexual assault and abuse, like in scholarly and educational institutions."

Lia Thomas prepares to swim the women's 500-yard freestyle ultimate at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. (WHD Photograph/John Bazemore)

Scanlan competed on UPenn’s swim workforce from 2018-2019 and from 2021-2022. All through her final time, ​​Thomas turned the 1st transgender athlete to earn a Division I championship in any sport, successful the 500-garden freestyle in 2022.

Thursday’s hearing to examine the "hazards and owing system violations of 'gender-affirming care'" and the purpose of mom and dad in those choices.