Lia Thomas’ former teammates filed a lawsuit just a day before Donald Trump signed a new executive order on transgender women.
Three former teammates of trans athlete Lia Thomas have filed a lawsuit against several organizations.
They claim they were emotionally harmed during the 2021/22 swimming season.
This lawsuit was filed a day before Trump signed a new order on transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Background on Lia Thomas
Lia Thomas is a swimmer who gained national attention for her achievements.
She became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship.
In 2022, she won the women’s 500-yard freestyle event.
Thomas began hormone replacement therapy in 2019, which led to significant changes in her physical appearance and performance.
Her participation in women’s sports has sparked debates and discussions about fairness and inclusion.
Trans athlete Lia Thomas’ ex-teammates sue her one day before Trump’s new trans policy
Three swimmers filed the lawsuit: Ellen Holmquist, Margot Kaczorowski, and Grace Estabrook.
They have named the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, the Ivy League Council of Presidents, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in their suit.
Notably, Lia Thomas herself is not included as a defendant.
The former teammates argue that allowing Thomas to compete with them and share a changing room caused them emotional trauma.
They feel that organizations violated their privacy and placed them in a difficult position throughout the season.
The lawsuit aims to have Thomas’s swimming records removed from the books.
The lawsuit coincides with Trump’s executive order.
This legal action coincides with Trump’s new executive order, signed on February 5, which seeks to ban transgender women from competing in female sports.
The order emphasizes the need for policies that ensure participation in women’s sports is based on sex rather than gender identity.
The public and transgender rights advocates have reacted with mixed opinions to this move.
Reaction from the swimming community
Estabrook spoke out about the lawsuit, expressing her disappointment.
She believes transgender inclusion forces women to accept losing opportunities in sports.
Estabrook expressed disappointment that women must accept losing sports opportunities due to transgender inclusion.
She believes organizations should prioritize the integrity of women’s sports.
The lawsuit includes a class-action claim for female athletes in the 2022 Ivy League Championships.
“I never expected my Ivy League education to teach me that women must silently accept losing their opportunities and privacy.
“Women’s sports and the leaders who oversee them should not prioritize men’s feelings over fairness and integrity,” Estabrook said.
Statements from the NCAA and Harvard
A spokesperson for the NCAA responded to the lawsuit, stating that the organization does not comment on ongoing legal matters.
They emphasized the NCAA’s commitment to promoting fairness in women’s sports.
Similarly, Harvard University also declined to comment on the active litigation.
“College sports are the premier stage for women’s sports in America, and while the NCAA does not comment on pending litigation,
the Association and its members will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women’s sports, and ensure fair competition in all NCAA championships.”
Similarly, a spokesperson for Harvard University said: “We don’t comment on active litigation.”
Donald Trump’s new executive order on trans women
President Trump’s executive order aims to reinforce policies that separate men’s and women’s sports.
He stated that women’s sports should be exclusively for women.
His administration plans to pressure organizations like the International Olympic Committee to change their transgender policies.
Trump said: “From now on, women’s sports will be only for women.
“We’ve gotten the woke lunacy out of our military and now we’re getting it out of women’s sports.”