Lia Thomas Shines in Last Home Meet as Some Protest, School Defends Transgender Swimmer
Newsweek they feel it is unfair to the other athletes to let her swim on the women's team.One, Joy Gray, said even after transitioning, Thomas still holds advantages over the other competitors due to being larger physically.
She called Thomas' participation "discrimination against women.""Bigger heart, bigger lungs, bigger bones, bigger surface area for muscle.
More muscle means more power. These do not go away with transitioning," she said.Another, Jennifer Thomas (no relation), said: "We want people to see other women and men standing up for what's right, which is fairness in sports."Gray added that while she thinks it's unfair for transgender women to participate in women's sports, she supports transgender athletes competing in their own leagues and dismissed accusations that those with concerns about trans women competing on women's sports teams are "anti-trans."Others attending the event supported Thomas.
One parent, Sue Feldman, told Newsweek she felt bad that Thomas received backlash, noting the swimmer has followed the rules set forth by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)."It's just kind of an unfortunate situation," she said. "I empathize with the girls who are getting beaten, but she hasn't done anything wrong.
