“We were forced to undress in front of Thomas 18 times per week.”
— Paula Scanlan, former University of Pennsylvania swimmer
What happens when we allow radical ideology to replace biology? For Paula Scanlan and her teammates on the University of Pennsylvania women’s swim team, the result was devastating: lost opportunities, shattered records, and silenced voices.
In the below video interview, Paula shares her personal experience of competing alongside a biological male—Will Thomas, who now identifies as Lia—and how it robbed her team of privacy, fairness, and equal opportunity. Her testimony continues to be a wake-up call for Pennsylvania lawmakers and parents alike.
“Swimming is a roster-limited sport… every single meet, one girl was left off the bus.”
This isn’t just about feelings. It is about fairness. In competitive sports, biological differences matter. Males have inherent physical advantages in size, speed, and strength, advantages that no amount of training can overcome. That’s why we separate sports by sex. But when male athletes are allowed to compete on women’s teams, female athletes lose out on playing time, records, scholarships, and the level playing field they were promised under Title IX.
“Knowing for sure Thomas was getting one of those spots… was really really hard for a lot of girls.”
Title IX was enacted 50 years ago to expand opportunities for women, not erase them. Yet that’s exactly what’s happening across the country—and right here in Pennsylvania. When female athletes are pushed aside so that male-identifying athletes can dominate their sport, we’re not promoting inclusion; we’re enforcing injustice.
“To gaslight girls into believing this is fair, and that they’re the ones who need psychological help, is so damaging.”
Paula’s story highlights more than the competitive disadvantage. It exposes the ideologically driven institutional pressure that young women face to stay silent. According to Paula, school officials warned her team that opposing the situation would affect their careers, reputation, and futures. They even offered psychological counseling, not to address the discomfort of sharing a locker room with a male, but to convince the women that their instincts and concerns were wrong.
“They told us that our feelings didn’t matter… that speaking against Lia being on the team would follow us for the rest of our lives.”
Enough is enough. If we truly believe in equal opportunity for women, that must include privacy in private spaces and fair competition in sports.
As has been widely reported, the U.S. Department of Education recently announced that the University of Pennsylvania has agreed to reverse course and comply with Title IX by stripping Will “Lia” Thomas of the women’s titles, records, and awards he took from deserving female athletes. As part of a resolution agreement under the Trump administration’s Title IX enforcement, UPenn will now restore the Division I women’s swimming records and recognitions to the rightful female athletes, issue a public statement affirming its commitment to biology-based definitions of male and female, and send formal apologies to each impacted swimmer.
The university also committed to banning male athletes from women’s sports and locker rooms moving forward. This official reversal not only vindicates Paula Scanlan and her teammates—it reinforces the truth that sex-based protections matter, and that fairness in women’s sports is worth fighting for.
Thankfully, many leaders in Pennsylvania agree and are taking a stand.
Senate Bill 9, the Save Women’s Sports Act, would ensure that only biological females can compete in girls’ and women’s athletic teams in K–12 schools and colleges. Introduced by ten female Senators, including Sen. Judy Ward, Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, and Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, SB9 is simple, commonsense legislation to restore fairness and uphold the intent of Title IX.
Their message is clear:
“Allowing a biological male to compete on a women’s scholastic athletic team puts all women on the playing field at an automatic disadvantage.”
The Senate passed SB9. Now the bill awaits action in the Pennsylvania House, where House Bill 158, led by Reps. Barb Gleim, Martina White, and Stephanie Borowicz mirror the same protections.
This issue is not partisan. A 2025 poll by Parents Defending Education found that 78% of parents oppose allowing males who identify as female to compete on girls’ sports teams. That includes Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.
It’s time for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to act.
Take Action Now
✅ Go to pafamily.org/action to contact your State Representative. Urge them to support SB9 and bring the Save Women’s Sports Act to the House floor for a vote. Watch Paula’s full story below and share it with your PA friends, family, and community. Invite them to also contact their state representative. The more voices speak up, the harder it is to ignore.
