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Lia Thomas' ex teammate Paula Scanlan slams priority given to trans rights over women safety

Paula Scanlan's concerns center around the need to balance inclusivity with the protection of women's rights and safety

PHILADELPHIA, PENNYSYLVANIA: Lia Thomas' former UPenn swimming teammate and 23-year-old Connecticut native Paula Scanlan has voiced her concerns about transgender athletes participating in women's sports. 

In an opinion piece, Scanlan raised issues regarding transgender women competing in female divisions and the potential risks that women may face if their safety is not considered in the context of inclusivity efforts.

What has Paula Scanlan spoken about? 

In her opinion piece for the Telegraph, Paula Scanlan expressed her concerns about the potential risks that women may face if they are not adequately considered in ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity. 

She highlighted the importance of prioritizing women's physical safety when making decisions about women-only spaces like locker rooms.

In her testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, Scanlan drew parallels with the #MeToo movement in Hollywood, emphasizing the significance of women speaking out about their experiences to raise awareness of various forms of mistreatment.

What did Paula Scanlan convey in her writing? 

In her writing, Paula Scanlan advocated for creating safe spaces for everyone, including transgender women, without compromising the privacy and safety of cisgendered females. 

She raised questions about the shift in focus from important movements like #MeToo and suspected that this change might be related to the current discussions surrounding transgender athletes and women's sports. 

Scanlan's concerns center around the need to balance inclusivity with the protection of women's rights and safety. 

“Some slogans like ‘Believe All Women’ were met with criticism, because they conflicted with the important principles of "innocent until proven guilty" and due process for the accused,” Scanlan wrote.

She continued, “But we can all agree that the intimidation and harassment of women is wrong. What a shame, then, that we can’t seem to agree on what a woman actually is”.

What is Paula Scanlan's last win?  

Paula Scanlan participated in six competitions for the Quakers from 221 to 2022. 

She achieved a 16th-place finish in the 100 backstroke at the ECAC Championships and secured a 14th-place finish in the 200 backstroke at the ECAC Championships.

Did Lia Thomas have an advantage?

According to US Today, critics of Lia Thomas argue that her transition to the women's field provided her with an unfair advantage, citing her lower rankings as a male competitor compared to her top performances as a female athlete. 

Some have drawn parallels between this situation and a cisgender woman taking a spot on a travel team or earning a scholarship. 

Thomas's decision to compete in women's swimming in 2021 generated significant controversy, particularly as she went on to set numerous UPenn women's team records, including five individual records, and won three individual events at the Ivy League Championships in February 2022.